Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Apple has requested internal Samsung data on how people switch between iPhone and Android to show that its apps are not anti-competitive.
- The request is part of Apple’s defense against US antitrust claims that it restricts competition and user choice.
- Even if the request is approved by a US court, South Korean authorities and Samsung could still block access to the data.
Apple’s fight against US antitrust claims has taken an unusual turn, and the company is now seeking help from one of its biggest rivals, Samsung.
Apple seeks permission from a US court (h/t 9-5 March) to obtain internal documents from Samsung’s parent company in South Korea. These required documents include important market research, business reports and information related to Samsung’s smartphones, smartwatches and Galaxy Store.
The request is part of an ongoing legal battle with the US Department of Justice and several states that accuse Apple of using its control over the iPhone and App Store to limit competition. The crux of this case is whether or not Apple has made it difficult iPhone users will switch to Android.
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Apple strongly disagrees with this claim his final presentationand claims that regulators are relying on the notion that Apple is actively preventing users from switching to Android. To prove its point, Apple is now asking Samsung, the biggest Android phone maker, for data to show how competitive the market really is and how often users switch between platforms.
Apple essentially argues that Samsung’s data is crucial because it reflects real-world competition, not just theory. As regulators use Samsung as a prime example of Apple’s competition, Apple says Samsung’s internal data can show how the market actually works.
“Apple” has already tried to get this information from the US division of “Samsung”, but the relevant documents are said to be in the headquarters of “Samsung” in South Korea. So now Apple is using an international legal process called the Hague Evidence Convention to officially request this information from the Korean authorities.
Even if the US court agrees to Apple’s request, there is no guarantee that Samsung will actually open its books to Apple. South Korean authorities will still have to approve Apple’s request, and Samsung will likely object under local law.
If Apple can get hold of this data, it could play an important role in this case. Knowing how often users switch between iPhone and Android devices, particularly from iPhone to Samsung devices, could help determine whether Apple’s practices are truly anticompetitive or just part of normal market competition.
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