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US court denies Apple’s request to dismiss antitrust case concerning iCloud
A California district court has denied Apple’s request to throw out a class action lawsuit that alleges the company violates competition laws by forcing users of its devices to back up their critical files and device settings on its cloud storage service, iCloud. The complaint also accuses Apple of not allowing third-party cloud services to access certain files, and preventing them from offering a “full-service” storage that competes with iCloud.
The court’s decision comes after the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint earlier this year, which was deemed sufficient by Judge Eumi Lee. The original lawsuit had previously been dismissed due to insufficient evidence, but the new allegations have been found to have merit.
According to the lawsuit, Apple holds a monopoly in the cloud-based storage market for iPhones, both in terms of revenue and user numbers. However, users can currently back up data like photos, videos, and other documents from their devices to any cloud storage service of their choice. The issue arises when it comes to backing up core device data, such as app data and device settings.
Apple defended its decision to limit third-party cloud apps from accessing core data in its motion to dismiss, citing security reasons. The company stated that the design decision was grounded in “security and privacy considerations, given the sensitivity of the data required to restore one’s Apple device.”
The implications of this case could have significant consequences for the tech industry, particularly in regards to cloud storage services.
Source: techcrunch.com
