*By Amanda Weston*
While the Supreme Court hears a case on Apple's alleged app store monopoly, other tech companies may have cause to worry about their own legal futures.
Several users have alleged that Apple has violated antitrust law by [monopolizing the iPhone app market](https://www.law360.com/appellate/articles/1104418/up-next-at-high-court-apple-s-app-store-civil-forfeiture-). Users must purchase or download apps through Apple's store, unless they ["jailbreak" their phones](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/26/apple-to-tell-supreme-court-it-cant-be-sued-in-app-store-dispute.html), voiding the warranty.
Jimmy Hoover, a legal reporter for Law360, said a ruling that favors the users would be "an anathema to these companies."
"They do not want to see the Supreme Court open up what they would consider to be the litigation floodgates to a lot of consumers coming in and making allegations of anti-competitive conduct. They want to be completely removed from the legal liability here. That's why you've seen some of them file briefs in support of Apple in this case."
In essence, if Apple loses the case, a new precedent may form around big tech ー which has enjoyed a largely unregulated run.
According to Hoover, the justices appear on the side of the consumer ー at least for now.
"The justices at least seemed to seriously consider, and in the words of some court watchers, sympathize even, with the consumers in this case," he said. "I think Apple ($AAPL) has its work cut out for it in this particular case, and I don't know that I can say that they're out of the woods yet with this class action suit."
That said, Hoover predicted it may be several weeks or months before the justices rule on the case.
Adding to the complexity: Apple is relying on a 1977 landmark decision *Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois.* In that case, The court established that only direct buyers can receive damages from a monopoly holder. Apple is arguing it does not directly sell apps to users, and is instead an intermediary for app developers. Apple currently takes a 30 percent commission on app sales.
"The consumers turn around and say, 'Hey look, this is your platform and you're automatically tagging on this 30 percent commission fee, so we consider ourselves to be engaging with you,'" Hoover said.
"So it's really kind of this old precedent from the '70s that is being applied in this new novel way in a digital app marketplace."
President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie ahead of the board considering the largest railroad merger ever proposed.
Ford is recalling more than 355,000 of its pickup trucks across the U.S. because of an instrument panel display failure that’s resulted in critical information, like warning lights and vehicle speed, not showing up on the dashboard.
Nvidia reported a 56% increase in second-quarter revenue and a 59% rise in net income compared to a year ago.
The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to lead a protest march on Wall Street to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader will join clergy, labor and community leaders Thursday in a demonstration through Manhattan’s Financial District that’s timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. Sharpton called DEI the “civil rights fight of our generation." He and other Black leaders have called for boycotting American retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity and reducing discrimination in their ranks.
President Donald Trump's administration last month awarded a $1.2 billion contract to build and operate what's expected to become the nation’s largest immigration detention complex to a tiny Virginia firm with no experience running correction facilities.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos claims audiences don't want to watch Netflix movies in theaters, but that seems not to be the case recently.
Chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly report that could provide a better sense of whether the stock market has been riding an overhyped artificial intelligence bubble or is being propelled by a technological boom that’s still gathering momentum.
Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday it’s returning to its old logo after critics — including President Donald Trump — protested the company’s plan to modernize.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
