October Term 2018 · Docket 17-204
Can iPhone owners sue Apple for app price inflation?
Consumers claim Apple’s store monopoly raised app prices. Apple argues only developers can sue.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Apple’s lawyer argued Illinois Brick bars pass-through theories.
Consumers’ lawyer argued Apple targeted iPhone owners directly.
Justices questioned how consumers prove their specific injury.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests who can sue for antitrust harm. Consumers say Apple’s store rules hurt them. Apple says only developers suffered direct injury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 26, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
Apple wants the Court to dismiss the consumer lawsuit.
Consumers want the Court to allow their lawsuit to continue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
What each side says
Apple argues only direct buyers can sue for antitrust harm.
Consumers argue they paid higher prices due to Apple’s monopoly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if any first buyer exists in this case.
Justice Sotomayor asked how consumers prove their specific injury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-33
Why it matters
This case defines who can sue for antitrust harm. It affects how consumers challenge platform monopolies. It shapes future antitrust litigation against digital markets.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-33
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.