An antitrust lawsuit against Apple, brought by Venmo and Cash App customers, has been dismissed by United States District Judge Vince Chhabria. The lawsuit, which was filed in San Jose on November 17, 2023, accused Apple of engaging in monopolistic practices through its Apple iOS App Store. The plaintiffs alleged that Apple hindered competitors to its Apple Pay service from introducing desirable features, such as integrating decentralized cryptocurrency payments. This, in turn, prevented Venmo, Cash App, and other services from offering competitive pricing and improved functionality for iOS users.
Judge Chhabria granted Apple’s motion for dismissal on March 26, 20, citing several flaws in the complaint. The plaintiffs failed to establish any antitrust actions and did not explain why competitors like Zelle were not included in the lawsuit. The court deemed the suit speculative and based on a flawed premise. The initial complaint argued that Apple’s terms of service for Venmo and Cash App prevented them from including cryptocurrency features. However, the judge dismissed this argument, referring to the relevant rule in the App Store’s terms of service and stating that it did not apply to the case.
The plaintiffs have 21 days from the filing date to submit amendments to the case in an attempt to proceed with the lawsuit. However, given the judge’s final remarks, it seems unlikely that the odds are in their favor.