Supreme Court Signals Interest in Apple’s Appeal in Consumer Lawsuit

Shoppers look at products at the Upper West Side Apple Inc. store in New York.

Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
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The Supreme Court asked the Trump administration for advice on a consumer lawsuit that accuses Apple Inc. of trying to monopolize the market for iPhone apps so it can charge excessive commissions.

The request to U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco suggests the justices are interested in hearing Apple’s appeal. The company contends consumers can’t press the antitrust lawsuit because the 30 percent commission is levied on the app developers, not the purchasers.