The Walled Garden Argument

Apple's treatment of its iPhone ecosystem as a 'walled garden' is a major point of contention in the antitrust lawsuit. The Department of Justice (DOJ) argues that Apple employs a range of technical and contractual restrictions designed to inhibit developers from creating cross-platform products that could challenge Apple's dominance. These super apps and cloud gaming services pose a threat to Apple’s monopoly because they potentially reduce user reliance on Apple's hardware and software. In contrast, Apple defends its restrictions, asserting that they enhance the overall user experience by making its smartphones safer, more trustworthy, and more seamless, while suggesting users have the option to switch to Android if they desire more freedom.