Apple US settlement talks may set template for EU cases
Apple is negotiating an early settlement with the US Department of Justice over its iPhone monopoly, a move that could dictate how much the tech giant concedes to European regulators in parallel investigations.
Apple and the US Department of Justice have entered early settlement discussions to resolve a landmark 2024 antitrust lawsuit accusing the company of illegally monopolising the iPhone ecosystem. The tech giant has submitted multiple offers this year to resolve the claims. No trial date has been set and a final agreement is not guaranteed.
The lawsuit, filed by the Biden-era DOJ alongside 19 states and the District of Columbia, alleged Apple maintained a monopoly by blocking super apps, restricting rival digital wallets, discouraging outside messaging solutions and hindering smartwatch competition. Apple failed to have the case dismissed in June 2025. The company is simultaneously navigating the Supreme Court’s refusal to pause a contempt order in the separate Epic case, increasing its incentive to reduce legal exposure.
The negotiations reflect a shift in US antitrust enforcement under the current administration. Stanley Woodward, the third-ranking DOJ official overseeing antitrust, has pushed to settle inherited cases to conserve taxpayer resources and deliver faster consumer relief than years of complex litigation. It remains unclear whether the 19 state attorneys general are participating in these discussions.
A blueprint for European regulators
For European regulators, investors and rival tech companies, the outcome of these US talks carries outsized importance. European fintechs and app developers stand to gain if a settlement forces Apple to permanently open its NFC payment chip and allow super apps.
Authorities in Brussels, already enforcing the Digital Markets Act, are pressing Apple to open its platforms. A binding US settlement would establish a global baseline for interoperability. If the DOJ secures broad concessions, European regulators could use the agreement as a floor, demanding similar or stricter measures in ongoing proceedings.
Apple has already pre-emptively addressed several complaints raised in the US lawsuit. The company launched a mini apps programme, adopted Google’s RCS messaging standard, permitted cloud-streaming applications and opened the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party wallets. While the Apple Watch remains incompatible with Android, Apple has improved how non-Apple smartwatches function with the iPhone. These voluntary steps will likely form the starting point of any formal settlement, dictating the future architecture of the global app economy.
