Apple antitrust trial ends with pointed questions

OAKLAND (California) • Mr Tim Cook took the stand for the first time as Apple's chief executive officer.

The billionaire creator of one of the world's most popular video games walked a federal judge through a tour of the so-called metaverse.

Lawyers in masks debated whether an anthropomorphic banana without pants was appropriate to show in federal court.

For the past three weeks, Apple has defended itself in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California, against claims that it abused its power over the iPhone App Store, in one of the biggest antitrust trials in Silicon Valley's history.

Epic Games, maker of the popular game Fortnite, sued Apple last year, seeking to allow apps to avoid the 30 per cent commission that the iPhone maker takes on many app sales.

On Monday, the trial - which covered esoteric definitions of markets as well as oddball video game characters - concluded with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California pressing the companies on what should change in Apple's business, if anything.

The decision over the case, as well as the future of the US$100 billion (S$132.5 billion) market for iPhone apps, now rests in her hands. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has said she hopes to issue a verdict by mid-August.

The case focused on how Apple wields control over the iPhone App Store to charge its commission on app sales. Companies big and small have argued that the fee shows Apple is abusing its dominance, while Apple has responded by saying that its cut of sales helps fund efforts to keep iPhones safe.

Regulators and lawmakers have homed in on the issue, making it the centre of antitrust complaints against the company.

Epic's lawsuit was the biggest test yet of those claims - and the best shot for app developers who want to weaken Apple's grip on the iPhone app market.

Throughout the trial, lawyers, investors and journalists parsed Judge Gonzalez Rogers' comments and questions for hints of her thinking. When Epic brought its witnesses to the stand, she appeared at points to be sympathetic to Apple's arguments.

But the angle of her questions shifted when Apple presented its witnesses, including Mr Cook, last week.

In a sharp back-and-forth with the Apple chief last Friday, the judge told Mr Cook that it was clear his company had made changes to its app store fees in response to public pressure. She then interrogated him on why Apple was unwilling to give iPhone users more choice on where they could buy apps. In response, Mr Cook effectively admitted that Apple wanted to maximise its profits.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers also suggested that Epic's requested outcome in the case would require a significant change in Apple's business and questioned whether there was legal precedent for that.

"Give me some example that survived appellate review where the court has engaged in such a way to limit or fundamentally change the economic model of a monopolistic company?" she asked Epic's lawyers.

The judge has said she expects her ruling to be appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. If appealed, a three-judge panel in that court could review her decision.

Former president Barack Obama nominated Judge Gonzalez Rogers, 56, to the federal court in 2011. Given her base in Oakland, her cases have often related to the technology industry, and she has overseen at least two cases involving Apple. In both cases, Apple won.

The judge concluded Monday's trial by thanking the lawyers and court staff, who mostly used masks and face shields during the proceedings.

Months ago, in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, it was unclear if the trial could be held in person, but Judge Gonzalez Rogers decided that it was an important enough case and ordered special rules to minimise the health risks, including limits on the number of people in court.

Epic opted to include its CEO over an extra lawyer, and Mr Tim Sweeney spent the trial inside the courtroom, watching from his lawyers' table.

Mr Sweeney, who is typically prolific on Twitter, did not comment publicly over the past three weeks. On Monday, he broke his silence by thanking the Popeyes fried chicken restaurant next to the courthouse.

NYTIMES