Apple’s App Store antitrust nightmare just won’t end

Apple is locked in the longest, messiest antitrust battle of any tech company—and it’s only getting worse.

The fight traces back decades. In 1998, Microsoft faced antitrust charges for crushing Apple in the PC market. Microsoft settled. Apple survived. Fast forward to today: Apple controls the App Store, a digital fortress that generates tens of billions annually. Now Apple faces the same antitrust heat Microsoft did—only this time, Apple is the monopoly.

The company has battled regulators worldwide over App Store rules. The U.S. Department of Justice sued. The EU fined Apple billions and forced changes. South Korea passed laws stripping Apple’s payment control. Epic Games sued and won partial victories. App developers launched coordinated pressure campaigns. Every region, every regulator, every competitor smells blood.

Apple keeps losing. The company has been forced to allow alternative payment methods, open up sideloading in some markets, and reduce its commission on in-app purchases. Each concession invites more lawsuits. Each legal fight spawns new regulations elsewhere.

The bitter irony: the company that survived Microsoft’s dominance became exactly what it feared.