Apple’s long, bitter App Store antitrust war

In 1998 Microsoft faced an antitrust trial and targeted Apple as a smaller competitor.

Microsoft held north of 80% of the PC market while Apple occupied only a fraction; a court found Microsoft tried to crush QuickTime.

Apple later became dominant in mobile computing and earns from iPhone hardware, accessories, apps, services, App Store developer commissions, and iOS search bar revenue from a default Google Search deal.

Apple’s tight control over its mobile ecosystem has drawn criticism; locking developers out of certain iOS features can be illegal, and ‘sherlocking’—copying and integrating others’ tools—is typically not illegal.

Developers and users are frustrated by restrictions on third‑party app stores and sideloading; Epic Games has filed legal complaints in multiple countries, and governments including the US, the EU, Brazil, and Korea are involved.