DOJ and Apple attorneys have met thrice over a possible swimsuit, Bloomberg reported, citing individuals accustomed to the matter. The case would reportedly deal with software program and {hardware} limitations on iPhones and iPads that impede aggressive providers.

Each the DOJ Antitrust division, beneath Assistant Lawyer Normal Jonathan Kanter, and the Federal Commerce Fee, beneath Chair Lina Khan, have taken associated motion towards main tech corporations. Each enforcers have pursued circumstances towards Google guardian Alphabet, and the FTC has accomplished so towards Amazon and Meta.

DOJ attorneys hope to file the swimsuit inside the first quarter, the individuals acquainted instructed Bloomberg, capping a probe that has been underway since 2019.

Apple has been scrutinized and even sued over allegedly anticompetitive practices. Music streaming platform Spotify lodged a contest grievance with European Union in 2019, alleging that Apple’s then-mandatory in-app funds system violated antitrust regulation.

Apple has additionally been mired in civil litigation filed by Fortnite maker Epic Video games, hinging on whether or not Apple’s App Retailer guidelines violated federal antitrust statues. The Supreme Court docket earlier this week declined to listen to appeals from each corporations, concluding the protracted litigation with a blended victory for Apple and Epic.

A federal choose concluded in 2021 that Apple violated a California regulation however didn’t run afoul of federal antitrust statues. The Ninth Circuit Court docket of Appeals largely upheld that call, prompting two completely different appeals from every of the businesses. Nonetheless, following the Supreme Court docket’s resolution to say no listening to appeals, Apple modified its guidelines to permit app makers to hyperlink prospects to a non-Apple billing answer.

The Justice Division declined to remark. Apple didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s request for remark.