The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey denied Apple’s motion to dismiss a civil antitrust lawsuit filed by MI Attorney General Dana Nessel, the U.S. Department of Justice and 15 other state attorneys general. The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers. In the decision, the Court allowed the case to proceed, reaffirming that state attorneys general, independent of the federal government, have standing to sue companies whose anticompetitive conduct harms the well-being of its residents. The Court also found that the facts alleged in the lawsuit support the coalition’s argument that Apple engaged in anticompetitive behavior with intent and substantial likelihood of monopolizing the market. “Mega corporations cannot be allowed to dictate the rules of the digital marketplace at the expense of their customers. I am pleased the Court has allowed this case to proceed, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to protect customers and promote fair competition.” – AG Nessel