Posted on 03/25/2024 10:17:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The behemoth that is Apple Inc. finds itself in the crosshairs of the U.S. Department of Justice. On March 21, 2024, the DoJ filed a blockbuster antitrust lawsuit accusing the iPhone maker of unlawfully monopolizing the smartphone market through exclusionary and anticompetitive conduct. Joined by a coalition of state attorneys general, the government’s 88-page complaint alleges that Apple has wielded its immense power to stifle competition, reduce innovation, and ultimately harm consumers.
At first blush, this may seem like a classic tale of a big tech company finally facing its comeuppance. After all, we’ve seen this story before with Microsoft in the 1990s. But as with most antitrust cases, the reality is far more nuanced. Let’s unpack the key issues at play and examine whether Uncle Sam might have a case.
The Allegations: A Pattern of Anticompetitive Conduct?
The core of the DoJ’s argument is that Apple has engaged in a “broad course of conduct” -- a euphemism for lots of different bad behavior -- to reinforce its stranglehold over the smartphone market. With U.S. market shares exceeding 65% for smartphones overall and 70% for pricier “performance” smartphones, the government contends Apple’s dominance is unassailable.
Notably, the lawsuit doesn’t just point to Apple’s market share as problematic. Instead, it weaves a narrative of how Apple has systematically quashed competitive threats to protect its “smartphone monopoly.” The alleged sins are many:
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
NY sued MS for the browser nonsense, Intel for some other nonsense.
NY is running out of money.
That is why this is going on.
So they are less expensive, right?
/sarc
AG Garland, describing Apple as a criminal.
When there is obviously plenty of competition producing hardware and software, features, and ventures.
> Either that or the government is having trouble hacking into IOS so they want to force changes to make it less secure.
DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!
“it all just works”
Uh, NO, it doesn’t always.....
“AG Garland, describing Apple as a criminal.”
He’s projecting.
Again.
RE: My problem with iPhones is that the batteries are a PITA to replace.
THAT’s the “crime” they need to convicted of.
Why invoke the government here if that’s the case? Millions of people like you already have the power to punish Apple for this problem and here it is — Don’t patronize their product!
Good, this will give Southern Baptists and NRA members a little break.
Apple must have crossed the powers that be somehow. Strange since I thought they were in the left’s good graces.
Apple is massively successful.
In the eyes of a Communist, that’s a sin.
It is interesting to watch Communists go after capitalists.
but Leftist Capitalists.
I’m no fan of Apple’s politics, but I wonder which of Apple’s rivals benefit from this lawsuit? Next biggest players globally would be Samsung and Xiaomi. Of the two, I’m most curious about Xiaomi, but both have a stake.
* * *
https://thehill.com/lobbying/4270548-bottom-line-samsung-lobbies-up-on-semiconductor-tax-issues/
Bottom Line: Samsung lobbies up on semiconductor, tax issues
BY TAYLOR GIORNO - 10/24/23 6:00 AM ET
Samsung Semiconductor Inc. hired Covington & Burling LLP to lobby on issues including the advanced manufacturing investment credit, which incentivizes domestic semiconductor production. The firm will also focus on the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act, which the Senate Finance Committee unanimously advanced in mid-September, less than a week before the effective lobbying registration date. Ed McClellan, former tax counsel on the Senate Finance Committee, will work on the account. . .
Chip companies are at the center of what has been an escalating row between Beijing and Washington. The U.S., where the majority of the technology originates, believes that restricting China’s access to it will bolster national security and hold back the Asian nation’s efforts to advance its military capabilities. The companies have argued that being cut off from their largest market will harm their ability to spend on advancing their technology and ultimately undermine U.S. leadership.
Representatives for the three companies declined to comment.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon gets more than 60% of his company’s revenue from the China region by supplying components to smartphone makers such as Xiaomi Corp. Intel’s Pat Gelsinger, who visited Beijing earlier this month to show off his company’s latest artificial intelligence chips, counts the nation as his biggest sales region. The country provides about a quarter of Intel’s sales. And for Nvidia, run by co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang, China provides about a fifth of revenue.
* * *
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-lobbyists-drop-chinese-clients-amid-tightened-scrutiny-/7513459.html
The effort to tighten scrutiny of China’s lobbying activities follows the U.S. Department of Defense’s release in late January of a list of “Chinese military companies” operating directly or indirectly in the United States known as the 1260H list.
Lawmakers subsequently said they were considering a measure prohibiting lobbyists who represent companies on the list from meeting with members of Congress, even to discuss matters on behalf of their American clients.
Following the release of the 1260H list, a chart began circulating on Capitol Hill that named various Chinese companies, including some military firms, as well as the names of their lobbying firms and whether they appear on the 1260H list.
Responding to the chart, at least five U.S. lobbying firms dropped Chinese clients as of late February. Steptoe LLP has terminated its contract with Shenzhen biotech company BGI. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld filed cease-and-desist documents to stop lobbying for Chinese LiDAR maker Hesai Group and terminated its cooperation with Xiaomi, a Chinese electronics company not on the 1260H list. The Vogel Group has also dropped lobbying services for Chinese drone company DJI and Complete Genomics, a subsidiary of genetic technology company BGI.
* * *
https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/lobbyists?cycle=2023&id=D000102748
$460,000
Total Lobbying Expenditures, 2023
5
Number of Lobbyists
5 (100.00%)
Number of Revolvers ?more info
Lobbyists representing Xiaomi Inc, 2023
imore info
Filter by Revolving Door Profiles:
All
Filter by Former Members of Congress:
All
Lobbying Firm Hired Total Amount* Client Lobbyist
BGR Group $360,000 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Lester Munson
BGR Group $360,000 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Walker Roberts
BGR Group $360,000 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Edward M Jr Rogers
BGR Group $360,000 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Maya Seiden
BGR Group $360,000 Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Hunter Strupp
I smell a multibillion dollar settlement already earmarked for some organization like Act Blue, Obama style.
What an ingenious way to skirt campaign finance laws.
EC
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