Apple will have to face a major antitrust lawsuit in the US after a federal judge rejected its attempt to dismiss the case brought by the Department of Justice.

The court ruled that there is enough evidence for the case to proceed, allowing the DOJ’s claims that Apple unlawfully monopolised the smartphone market through restrictive practices to move forward.

The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, targets Apple’s so-called “walled garden” ecosystem, alleging that the company uses technical and contractual barriers to block third-party apps, devices and services from competing on iPhones.

In a statement, Apple said it believes the case is “wrong on the facts and the law,” and vowed to “vigorously fight it in court.”

The DOJ contends that Apple’s dominance allows it to charge developers excessive fees, limit innovation, and lock users into its products – claims that mirror similar investigations in the EU.

Apple recently changed its App Store fee structure in Europe to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

The US case could run for years, with trial proceedings potentially extending into 2027. It joins a growing list of legal challenges targeting Big Tech’s market power, including ongoing DOJ actions against Google and Meta.

Apple, which sold over A$300 billion worth of iPhones globally in 2024, is also facing new litigation from Proton, an app developer accusing the company of anti-competitive behaviour.