Apple's antitrust battle with the US Department of Justice is drawing a growing group of technology companies into the case, as Epic Games, Samsung, Roblox and others challenge demands for internal documents.

The disputes centre on subpoenas issued by Apple and by government prosecutors as both sides gather evidence. Apple has subpoenaed several third-party companies to support its defence, including Epic Games, Samsung Electronics America, Meta, Oura, Garmin, PayPal, Match Group and the Connectivity Standards Alliance.

Samsung Electronics America has already agreed to searches of documents held by two executives, producing nearly 900,000 records matching the agreed search terms. Apple is seeking to widen that search to six more executives, including current and former leaders of Samsung's US operations, and wants transcripts of testimony from Samsung executives in the Justice Department's separate antitrust case against Google.

Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite and a long-standing Apple legal rival, argues that Apple's demands, covering documents from three earlier lawsuits and extensive searches of files belonging to three senior executives including its chief executive, would be disproportionately burdensome. Epic has nevertheless offered to produce selected records, including Fortnite revenue and user data, agreements with Google and Samsung, and documents about Apple's Core Technology Fee.

Roblox, the only company among the recent filings subpoenaed by the Justice Department and the plaintiff states rather than by Apple, is disputing requests about its relationship with Apple and how Apple's App Store policies are applied. Several companies involved have asked for until 11 November to continue negotiations before formally telling the court that talks have reached an impasse. The Justice Department, joined by 15 states and the District of Columbia, filed the lawsuit in March 2024, accusing Apple of restricting competition and making it harder for consumers to switch devices. Source: PYMNTS