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Apple Inc. in 2023

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| Language: English
| Pages: 26

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David B. Yoffie

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January 2024
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Apple Inc. in 2023 By: David B. Yoffie

Machine Learning Research at Apple

Recent research, a multi-signal large language model for device-directed speech detection, mm1: methods, analysis & insights from multimodal llm pre-training.

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Research highlights

Enhancing paragraph generation with a latent language diffusion model.

In the fast-evolving world of natural language processing (NLP), there is a strong demand for generating coherent and controlled text, as referenced in the work Toward Controlled Generation of Text. Traditional autoregressive models such as GPT, which have long been the industry standard, possess inherent limitations that sometimes manifest as repetitive and low-quality outputs, as seen in the work The Curious Case of Neural Text Degeneration. This is primarily due to a phenomenon known as "exposure bias," as seen in the work Scheduled Sampling for Sequence Prediction with Recurrent Neural Networks. This imperfection arises due to a mismatch between how these models are trained and their actual use during inference, often leading to error accumulation during text generation.

Personalizing Health and Fitness with Hybrid Modeling

Recent research has explored clinical monitoring, cardiovascular events, and even clinical lab values from wearables data. As adoption increases, wearables data may become crucial in public health applications like disease monitoring and the design of epidemiological studies.

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Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) 2023

Apple sponsored the Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) conference, which took place in person from December 10 to 16 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NeurIPS is a conference that fosters the exchange of research on neural information processing systems in their biological, technological, mathematical, and theoretical aspects. Below was the schedule of Apple-sponsored workshops and events at NeurIPS 2023.

Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) 2023

Apple is sponsoring the Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) conference, which will take place in person from December 6 to 10 in Singapore. EMNLP is a leading conference focused on natural language processing. Below is the schedule of Apple-sponsored workshops and events at EMNLP 2023.

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Apple Inc.: Global Supply Chain Management

By: P. Fraser Johnson

This case focuses on the supply chain strategy of Apple Inc. (Apple). Set in early 2020, it provides a detailed description of the company's supply chain network and capabilities. Data in the case…

Length: 20 page(s)
Publication Date: Jun 1, 2020
Discipline: Operations Management
Product #: W20472-PDF-ENG

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This case focuses on the supply chain strategy of Apple Inc. (Apple). Set in early 2020, it provides a detailed description of the company's supply chain network and capabilities. Data in the case allows students to develop an understanding of Apple's source of competitiveness and to gain insights into the management of a large, complex global supply chain network that focused on the intersection of services, hardware and software. Students will obtain an understanding of the supply chain challenges faced by Apple, in the context of supporting its corporate strategy and growth objectives.

Learning Objectives

This case can be used in an undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on operations management, supply chain management, logistics, business strategy, or marketing. It provides an opportunity to appreciate the complexities of managing a complex global supply chain. After completing the case, students will be able to do the following: Assess Apple's supply chain, and identify its key competitive advantages. Quantify Apple's ability to generate value from its supply chain. Identify potential opportunities and challenges for Apple in improving its supply chain. Analyze the effects of the opportunities and challenges Apple faces in its growth and evolution.

Jun 1, 2020 (Revised: Nov 13, 2023)

Discipline:

Operations Management

Geographies:

United States

Industries:

Ivey Publishing

W20472-PDF-ENG

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A Study on Products and Services of Apple Inc

2018, International Journal of Case Studies in Business, IT and Education (IJCSBE)

Over the last 30 years, Apple has taken growth hence computer device design to developingcustomer electronics. Steve Jobs, Steve Woznaik, and Ronald Wayne founded the Apple Inc.in 1970’s. Tim Cook is the current CEO of the company. Apple uses many types of internetbusiness patterns. Business to Business E-Commerce used in the marketing of electronicinventions to help operate daily proficiency in other business. Business to Consumer ECommerce is the marketing of iPods, Computer, and other productions to vary individualsrather than Business. Apple’s product line has developed rapidly in last few years. They areselling the products in the following categories: input device, output device, storage device,computers, and connecting devices. Apple is known to use a network called Airport Extreme Card picks up a Wi-Fi signal rather than a broadcast network. Apple is related Bonjor Connection. It is an automatic connection where computers and devices automatically transmit their own services and listen for services offered for the uses for the others. AirPortutility for Mac guides you through the process of connecting to the internet, and you willhave your network up and running in minutes. Apple provides the four fundamental ofnetwork security by offering a valid source of confidentiality with their terms and agreementstatement. Apple has their terms and agreement, which explains their integrity andavailability. Whether looking up online or calling the store via phone any answer to anyquestion answered honestly. Their security and access controls explain MAC OS X Server isbuilt on an advanced architecture to deliver the features you want with the security you need

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Zohaib Babar , Jawwad Jaskani , Tehreem Ilyas

Purpose: This case suggests the development of financial reporting of Apple Inc. in comparison with the industry over the period of 2004 to 2013. This study is helpful for different field of researchers e.g., management, technology, etc. Apple Inc. was found in 1976 by Steve Jobs. In 2007, Apple introduced smartphones and iOS and was the pioneer in this industry. But after the rising competition in this industry Androids snatched the market share from the Apple. Methodology: This study illustrates the reasons and the current performance of the company in the industry. The performance has been measured through actual financial data and through various financial techniques. Findings: This study has found that the company is losing share in the market because of the features in its products whereas the features offered by other competitors are relative consumer friendly and according to their demand. Suggestions: To retain the market share Apple should offer more products that are more affordable for the consumers. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ijafr.v4i2.6079

Scot King , Bruce Holman , Marilyn Gates

Dr. İbrahim Atakan Kubilay

Apple Corporation is one of the most profitable, and socially influential companies that ever existed. Its products are in homes, businesses and entertainment venues. It constantly brings out new high-tech tools to the consumer electronics market, the most recent one being the Apple Watch. The creation of this company is more humble, and is the result of a conjuncture of various factors that have converged to create a unique environment. It all started with a group of amateur electronics enthusiasts. Smart individuals, an engineering-oriented social environment, business angels willing to invest in a new start-up company, and the developments in technology appearing at the right time and place have all contributed to this creation. It took engineering knowledge, visionary management and a business outlook to succeed. Individual entrepreneurs and developing countries carefully study the reasons behind the success and influence of Apple, so that they could recreate the conditions for imitating similar successes for themselves and their countries. Especially universities are encouraged to launch start-up companies and dive into the commercial world. Techno-parks are built to imitate the achievements of garage founded companies such as Apple. In this study, the perceived and deducted reasons for Apple’s success are examined using an opinion survey, and accounts of the founders are examined and conclusions are made based on this information. The results show that the perceived and true reasons for Apple’s success may be very different and that a legendary image of the company with an ardent fan base may obscure the true reasons behind its success.

Samuel Roscoe

ivan ilich gomez freyre

Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies

TODD A FINKLE

The Apple Computer Company is arguably one of the most innovative technology companies to emerge in the last three decades. Apple, Inc. is responsible for bringing to market such products as the Macintosh desktop and the portable computer, iPod and iTunes, and most recently, the iPhone. The success of the company can be traced to the ingenuity of their founder and CEO, Steven Jobs. His philosophy has always been to create products that consumers find easy to use and integrate innovative technology. Throughout Apple’s history it has accomplished these goals. However, with a growing line of products, a competitive market landscape, and an unpredictable technology life cycle curve, the company faces challenges as to the direction of its product lines. The case gives an overview of a tool that is used to analyze a company’s product line portfolio and applies it to Apple, Inc.’s array of products. Questions for discussion are provided to enable students to use critical thinking skills in applying the case material.

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See More Documents Like This

Apple Inc Research Paper Examples

Type of paper: Research Paper

Topic: Leadership , Workplace , Development , Apple , Organization , Steve Jobs , Motivation , Diversity

Words: 2250

Published: 01/10/2020

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In this paper, the leadership style of Steve Jobs is evaluated. The researcher chose tech-genius who revolutionized the computer, music and publishing industries but also because he is a true visionary leader who was able to communicate his vision of “computer for the rest of us” and bring his followers (staff, investors, customers) in his journey of achieving the vision. The objectives of this paper are: first, to evaluate the leader that I have chosen in terms of his leadership style, ethical conduct and effective communication; second, to determine three best practices organizational leaders can use to motivate employees; third, to discuss some of the challenges that leaders encounters when managing diversity and how diversity helps business organizations to better compete in global markets; and fourth, to develop an effective business strategy to address the challenges and issues.

A successful leader inspires others. The leader who have inspired and made a positive impact on my life is Steven Paul Jobs or Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was the co-founder, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. Mclnerney (2011) described him as an unconventional leader who displayed an out-of-the-box management style; other writers considered him as a high-maintenance co-worker who required and demanded excellence from his staff. Petriglieri (2011) portrayed Jobs leadership as beautiful and functional just like his products that were works of arts. Jobs principles include “idea that work and passion can go hand-in-hand. That success can be a consequence of a life lived fully. That who we are can shape our work roles, and not the other way around. That being authentic can be rewarded, and enduring derision and failure without losing faith is ultimately worth it. That the true measure of success is how much meaning your work brings to yourself and others” (Petrilieri, 2011). It is apparent that Jobs was viewed differently by various individual. With all the descriptions mentioned, the tech-genius had inspired me not just because he revolutionized the computer, music and publishing industries but also because he is a true visionary leader who was able to communicate his vision of “computer for the rest of us” and bring his followers (staff, investors, customers) in his journey of achieving the vision. The objectives of this paper are: first, to evaluate the leader that I have chosen in terms of his leadership style, ethical conduct and effective communication; second, to determine three best practices organizational leaders can use to motivate employees; third, to discuss some of the challenges that leaders encounters when managing diversity and how diversity helps business organizations to better compete in global markets; and fourth, to develop an effective business strategy to address the challenges and issues.

Leadership, as defined by Hughes, Ginnett and Curphy (2012) is the process of influencing an organized group toward achieving its goal. According to Bennett (2009) it is the key factor that determines the ultimate success or failure of an organization. Academic textbooks teach us that there are several leadership styles or approaches, which are based on varying theories and assumptions. Nevertheless, Hughes, Ginnett and Curphy (2012) emphasized that there is no simple recipe for effective leadership. The style that a leader uses will be based on the combination of his beliefs, preferences, values, and the culture and norms of the organization.

The prevailing leadership thinking, as mentioned by Ismail et al (2011) classified leadership as either transformational or transactional. On the one hand, Bass (1990) and Bennett (2009) characterized a transformational leader as someone who is intuitive and charismatic. Transformational leadership as discussed by Bennett (2009) entails creating a vision, selling the vision, inspiring greater performance, fostering creative ideas, and being sensitive to the needs of others. Moreover, it has been proven to result in increases in productivity and employee satisfaction. On the other hand, transactional leaders work within existing culture. They ensure that the members of the organization are doing things correctly. Rewards are given based on the performance. Also, necessary action is made once the performance is found to deviate from what is expected. Bennett (2009) further stated that the good thing about transactional leadership is that it can build an environment of loyalty and trust if rewards are given since the awarding of the promised rewards likely results to job satisfaction.

A combination of the characteristics of the transformational and transactional leaders is the composite leader. I classify Steve Jobs as one.

Apple Inc. was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozinak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976. It is the provider of consumer electronics and personal computers. It comprised of retail stores operating in different countries all over the world. The products of the company include computer software (Mac OS X), Mac personal computers, computer hardware and portable media players (iPod). The introduction of the first graphical user interface in 1984 is the first commercially successful contribution of the company in the digital.

Apple Inc. was described by Wilcox (2002) as a company that has a unique culture. The work culture at Apple was driven by passion for new and innovative products and is often described as “fun yet demanding”. Moreover, the corporate culture at Apply Inc. was illustrated by intense work ethics in which the employees work in a creative, relaxed and casual environment, were results-driven and with strong commitment to deadlines.

Evaluation: Steve Jobs’ Leadership Style

I mentioned earlier in this paper that Steve Jobs posses both the characteristics of a transactional and transformational leaders; he is a composite leader. He was someone to be admired and feared. According to Tim (2009) the personality of Jobs as being charismatic and at the same time tyrannical lead to the success of Apple.

Best Practices Organizational Leaders Can Use to Motivate Employees

Motivation is defined as anything that provides direction, intensity, and persistence to behavior. Motivation is an important aspect of performance and many of the approaches to understanding motivation have distinct implications for increasing performance and satisfaction. There are several different theories of motivation. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs assumes that people are motivated to satisfy a universal set of needs. Achievement orientation views motivation as a personality trait and assumes some people are hardwired to be more motivated than others. Goal setting examines motivation from a cognitive perspective. This approach assumes that people make rational, conscious choices about the direction, intensity, and persistence of their behaviors, and generally engage in behaviors that maximize payoffs and minimize costs. The last two theories namely, empowerment and operant approach, examine motivation from a situational perspective. Leadership practitioners likely will be more effective if they learn to recognize situations where various approaches, or the insights particular to them, may be differentially useful. Several other theories seem to be more useful for explaining followers’ attitudes about work. Some research suggests that individuals vary in the characteristic tenor of their affectivity; some people generally have positive attitudes about work and life whereas others are generally unhappy about work and life. Such differences have a genetic component and may limit the extent to which initiatives by leaders will change follower satisfaction. Leaders may be able to increase satisfaction levels by giving followers more meaningful work and by treating them fairly. Followers (and leaders) are more likely to have positive attitudes about work if they believe that what they do is important and that the reward and disciplinary systems are fair and just.

Challenges Leaders Encounter When Managing Diversity

Diversity in the workplace pertains to the multiplicity of differences between people in the organization. It involves people’s perception of their selves and their perception of other people. Those perceptions affect their interactions. For a wide assortment of employees to function effectively as an organization, human resource professional needs to deal effectively with issues such as communication, adaptability and change. Diversity will increase significantly in the coming years. Successful organizations recognize the need for immediate action and are ready and willing to spend resources on managing diversity in the workplace now. The success of an organization is determined by its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as: increased adaptability, broader service range, variety of viewpoints, and more effective execution. Increased adaptability. Employing a diverse workforce increases the adaptability of the organization since increased diversity implies more variety of solutions to problems that be encountered. More talents and experiences are available brought by employees from diverse backgrounds. This also means that the organization become more flexible in adapting to changing market and customer demands.

Broader service range. The availability of variety of skills and experiences allows the organization to provide global services.

Variety of viewpoints. Because of the diverse backgrounds of the workforce, this provides a larger pool of ideas and experiences. This leads to a bigger pool of ideas and experiences that allow the organization to meet business strategy needs as well as customers need effectively. A diverse workforce that feels comfortable communicating varying points of view provides a larger pool of ideas and experiences. More effective execution. The presence of diversity tends to encourage and inspire employees to perform their best. In turn, company-wide strategies to be properly executed that leads to higher productivity, profit and ROI.

Taking full advantage of the benefits of diversity in the workplace is not without its challenges. Some of those challenges are: communication, resistance to change, implementation of diversity in the workplace policies, and successful management of diversity in the workplace. Communication. Because of the diverse backgrounds of the workforce, communication became a problem. The differences in view points, culture and language become barriers for the attainment of the organization’s goals, hence the organization has to overcome such problems. Ineffective communication tends to result in confusions, lack of teamwork, and low morale among employees. Resistance to change. In any organization with cultural differences among employees, there will always be a group or groups of employees who will resist any change that will be introduced in the organization. Implementation of diversity in the workplace policies. A customized strategy is needed in order to optimize the benefits of workplace diversity. A thorough assessment and research are needed to come up with such strategy. The challenge would be the implementation of the new policy in the workplace. Successful management of diversity in the workplace. The implementation of diversity in the workplace policies is not the end in the process of dealing with workplace diversity. Aside from the diversity training, a culture of diversity has to be infused in all of the departments and functions of the organization.

Effective Business Strategy to Address the Challenges and Issues

Effective business strategy to address the challenges and issues caused by diversity in the workplace includes: assessment of diversity in the workplace, development of diversity in the workplace plan, and implementation of diversity in the workplace plan. Assessment of diversity in the workplace. It has to be an integral part of the management system of the organization to make the assessment and evaluation of the diversity process. A satisfaction survey can be used in assessing what challenges to diversity are present in the workplace. Also, such survey can be used to assess what particular policy has to be eliminated or added. Development of diversity in the workplace plan. After the conduct of assessment of diversity in the workplace, the organization has to develop a plan for the diversity in the workplace. Such plan has to be comprehensive, measurable and attainable. Also, the organization has to decide the necessary changes to be made as well as the timeline for the attainment of the identified changes. Implementation of diversity in the workplace plan. In the implementation of the diversity in the workplace plan, the commitment of the top management is important. That is, the top management (leaders and managers) have to commit and cooperate in incorporating the policies in the organization’s purpose and function. This is to create a culture that is conducive for the success of the plan.

The recommended solutions to diversity in the workplace include: ward off change resistance with inclusion, foster an attitude of openness in the organization, promote diversity in leadership positions, utilize diversity training, and launch a customizable employee satisfaction survey that provides comprehensive reporting.

Bass, B. M. (1990). From transactional to transformational leadership: Learning to share the vision. Organizational Dynamics, (Winter): 19-31.

Bennett, T.. (2009). A Study of the Management Leadership Style Preferred by IT Subordinates. Journal of Organizational Culture, Communication and Conflict, 13(2), 1-25.

Hughes, Ginnett and Curphy (2012). Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. E-book.

Ismail, A., Mohamed, H., Sulaiman, A., Mohamad, M., & Yusuf, M.. (2011). An Empirical Study of the Relationship between Transformational Leadership, Empowerment and Organizational Commitment. Business and Economics Research Journal, 2(1), 89-107. Johns, Gary. Concordia University (1996). “Theories of Work Motivation” “Leadership” Organizational Behaviour: Understanding and Managing Life at Work. Harper Collins College Publishers. Mclnerney, Sarah (2011). “Steve Jobs: an unconventional leader”. The Syney Morning Herald. Accessed on November 9, 2012 from http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/steve-jobs-an-unconventional-leader-20111007-1lcmo.html Petriglieri, Gianpiero (2011). “How Steve Jobs Reinvented Leadership”. Forbes.com. Accessed on November 9, 2012 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/insead/2011/10/10/how-steve-jobs-reinvented-leadership/

Timm, J.. (2009. Infiltrating the Cult of Steve Jobs. Canadian Business, 82(17), 76.

Wilcox, J. (2002, February 22). Microsoft, Apple alliance at key juncture. Retrieved November 9, 2012 from CNet News Web site: http://news.com.com/2100-1040-843145.html.

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Apple Keeps Losing Patent Cases. Its Solution: Rewrite the Rules.

After losing two complaints before the U.S. International Trade Commission, Apple has stepped up its lobbying to change the agency’s practices.

An illustration of the top of a Greek column with watches as part of its construction.

By Tripp Mickle

Tripp Mickle has covered Apple since 2016.

Over the past decade, some of Apple’s biggest regulatory headaches have come from a little-known federal agency called the U.S. International Trade Commission. The agency’s patent judges have found Apple guilty of appropriating innovations in smartphones, semiconductors and smartwatches. And recently, they forced Apple to remove a health feature from Apple Watches .

Now the tech giant is pushing back. While it defends itself from patent complaints before the I.T.C., Apple has begun lobbying lawmakers to help rewrite the agency’s rules.

The company has been campaigning across Washington for legislation that would make some patent owners ineligible to bring complaints before the I.T.C. It has sought to influence the language of committee reports that could affect how the agency levels punishments. And it has added to its lobbying might by enlisting one of the agency’s former commissioners.

The lobbying effort comes as Apple is enmeshed in a multiyear legal battle with two U.S. medical device makers over technology in the Apple Watch. The companies, AliveCor and Masimo , filed complaints in the I.T.C. against Apple in 2021 for appropriating innovations they had developed to measure the heart’s electrical activity and people’s blood oxygen levels.

After losing both cases, Apple this year removed the technology to measure blood oxygen in its watches, which infringed on Masimo’s patent. It is appealing the I.T.C.’s decision. A similar punishment is on hold as court proceedings continue related to the I.T.C.’s finding that Apple infringed on AliveCor’s innovations with the Apple Watch’s electrocardiogram feature.

Apple is trying to blunt the agency’s signature power. Unlike traditional patent courts, where juries or judges typically issue fines, the I.T.C.’s judges can discipline a company that violates a patent by banning imports of the infringing product.

Because Apple makes all its signature devices overseas, a block on the import of its devices would be perilous to the company. To avoid that penalty in the future, the company says, it wants the agency to put the public interest of a product ahead of a ban. The company is betting that the court would then give more credence to Apple’s argument that Americans would be harmed by an import ban because they would lose access to the communication and health features in iPhones and Apple Watches.

An Apple spokeswoman said the existing law requires that the I.T.C. consider how the public interest could be affected before ordering an import ban. But it said public data showed that the agency had made public-interest evaluations in only one-fifth of cases it had heard since 2010. As a result, its lobbyists have been talking with White House and congressional leaders about the I.T.C., as well as other issues such as privacy and domestic manufacturing.

Adam Mossoff, a patent law expert and a professor at George Mason University, said Apple was misinterpreting the law, which requires the I.T.C. to block a product if it finds that it infringes on a patent. An import ban is supposed to be overruled only if there’s a proven threat to health or safety, he said. Blocking sales of an Apple device wouldn’t qualify as harmful.

“The problem with their lobbying is that they’re trying to neuter a well-functioning court by closing its doors to Americans who have had their rights infringed,” he said.

When Congress set up what became the I.T.C. in 1916, it wanted to protect American innovation by allowing the U.S. government to ban the import of products with stolen technology. But as manufacturing moved overseas, the federal agency’s court system became a forum for disputes between U.S. companies.

The I.T.C.’s judges, who are appointed by the commission, hold hearings with different standards for patent disputes than those that govern District Court cases. The cases are fast and compressed and can culminate with the judge’s punishing a patent abuser by blocking its products.

Before a ban is put into effect, a company that’s found guilty can appeal to the White House for a reprieve. But it’s rare for an administration, which oversees the agency, to go against a judge’s recommendation.

Apple has become the pre-eminent example of how the I.T.C. can be used. Because the company manufactures almost all its products overseas, the judges who have found it guilty of infringing on patents in smartphones, semiconductors and smartwatches say it should be punished by blocking the import of iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches.

Apple has largely escaped the import bans. In 2013, the Obama administration vetoed the I.T.C.’s plan to block iPhone imports after the agency determined that Apple had infringed on one of Samsung’s smartphone patents . In 2019, Apple agreed to pay Qualcomm a royalty for some wireless technology patents, heading off an I.T.C. ruling that could have blocked iPhone sales. And after losing the Masimo case, Apple agreed to remove the infringing health feature to dodge an Apple Watch ban.

For years, Apple avoided the kind of lobbying that was customary for a large corporation. It kept a small office in Washington staffed by just a few people and employed only one lobbying firm, two people familiar with the company’s practices said. But as regulatory challenges to its business have risen, its policy team has swelled to include dozens of people and 11 lobbying firms.

In the face of the patent complaints from AliveCor and Masimo, Apple’s team in Washington gave priority to lobbying to change the I.T.C. In 2022, it began working with the ITC Modernization Alliance, a loose-knit coalition of companies that includes Samsung, Intel, Dell, Google, Verizon and Comcast. The group worked with members of Congress as it wrote the Advancing America’s Interest Act in 2019 and supported its reintroduction in 2023 .

The bill’s backers — Representatives David Schweikert, a Republican from Arizona, and Donald S. Beyer Jr., a Democrat from Virginia — have promoted it as a way to curb abuse of the I.T.C. by patent trolls. It would prohibit patent holders from suing unless they manufactured a product that used the patented technology or had licensed the technology to someone else already.

AliveCor and Masimo are medical companies that have focused on selling products to health care providers and consumers more than licensing innovations to consumer technology companies like Apple.

Last year, Apple’s lobbyists filed three reports disclosing that it had campaigned on behalf of the bill, according to Open Secrets, a campaign finance research nonprofit. It also added to its lobbying ranks by hiring Deanna Tanner Okun , a former I.T.C. chair who works for the law firm Polsinelli. (The hiring was previously reported by Politico .)

The lobbying campaign coincided with an effort to argue in Washington that an I.T.C. ban on Apple Watch imports would deprive people of a device that was crucial to their health, two people familiar with the lobbying said.

In addition to lobbying directly on legislation, Apple worked with a member of Congress to put language on Page 97 of a committee report for the 2024 Appropriations Bill, said Representative Ken Buck, a Republican from Colorado. The language would require the I.T.C. to review how it determined the value to the public of a product before suggesting a ban and to report to Congress on that process.

“To me, this went around the legitimate process,” said Mr. Buck, who is leaving Congress this month . He told Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who is on the Rules Committee, that he had 10 votes and would block the bill unless the language was removed. Mr. Massie’s office confirmed that the language had been removed at Mr. Buck’s request but declined to comment further.

An Apple spokeswoman disagreed with Mr. Buck’s claims that its lobbying circumvented the legitimate legislative process. She said its public federal lobbying reports detailed how it worked on issues important for its products and customers.

The spokeswoman also pointed to the Senate’s passage of a committee report with a sentence expressing its support of the I.T.C.’s doing thorough analysis of the public health implications of a product ban before issuing one, which is what Apple wants in the future.

Tripp Mickle reports on Apple and Silicon Valley for The Times and is based in San Francisco. His focus on Apple includes product launches, manufacturing issues and political challenges. He also writes about trends across the tech industry, including layoffs, generative A.I. and robot taxis. More about Tripp Mickle

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Justice Department Sues Apple for Monopolizing Smartphone Markets

The Justice Department, joined by 16 other state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers. Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers. Apple exercises its monopoly power to extract more money from consumers, developers, content creators, artists, publishers, small businesses, and merchants, among others. Through this monopolization lawsuit, the Justice Department and state Attorneys General are seeking relief to restore competition to these vital markets on behalf of the American public.

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate the antitrust laws,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law. If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly. The Justice Department will vigorously enforce antitrust laws that protect consumers from higher prices and fewer choices. That is the Justice Department’s legal obligation and what the American people expect and deserve.”

“No matter how powerful, no matter how prominent, no matter how popular — no company is above the law,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Through today’s action, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to that principle.”

“When corporations engage in anticompetitive conduct, the American people and our economy suffer,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Today’s action against Apple sends a strong signal to those seeking to box out competitors and stifle innovation — that the Justice Department is committed to using every tool available to advance economic justice and root out anticompetitive practices, wherever they arise.”

“For years, Apple responded to competitive threats by imposing a series of “Whac-A-Mole” contractual rules and restrictions that have allowed Apple to extract higher prices from consumers, impose higher fees on developers and creators, and to throttle competitive alternatives from rival technologies,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s lawsuit seeks to hold Apple accountable and ensure it cannot deploy the same, unlawful playbook in other vital markets.”

As alleged in the complaint, Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone and performance smartphones markets, and it uses its control over the iPhone to engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct. This anticompetitive behavior is designed to maintain Apple’s monopoly power while extracting as much revenue as possible. The complaint alleges that Apple’s anticompetitive course of conduct has taken several forms, many of which continue to evolve today, including:

Blocking Innovative Super Apps. Apple has disrupted the growth of apps with broad functionality that would make it easier for consumers to switch between competing smartphone platforms.
Suppressing Mobile Cloud Streaming Services. Apple has blocked the development of cloud-streaming apps and services that would allow consumers to enjoy high-quality video games and other cloud-based applications without having to pay for expensive smartphone hardware.
Excluding Cross-Platform Messaging Apps. Apple has made the quality of cross-platform messaging worse, less innovative, and less secure for users so that its customers have to keep buying iPhones.
Diminishing the Functionality of Non-Apple Smartwatches. Apple has limited the functionality of third-party smartwatches so that users who purchase the Apple Watch face substantial out-of-pocket costs if they do not keep buying iPhones.
Limiting Third Party Digital Wallets. Apple has prevented third-party apps from offering tap-to-pay functionality, inhibiting the creation of cross-platform third-party digital wallets.

The complaint also alleges that Apple’s conduct extends beyond these examples, affecting web browsers, video communication, news subscriptions, entertainment, automotive services, advertising, location services, and more. Apple has every incentive to extend and expand its course of conduct to acquire and maintain power over next-frontier devices and technologies.

For over a century, the Department has enforced the antitrust laws against illegal monopolies, deploying the Sherman Act to unfetter markets and restore competition. As alleged in the complaint, the Department is seeking equitable relief on behalf of the American public to redress Apple’s long-running, pervasive anticompetitive conduct.

Apple Inc. is a publicly traded company incorporated in California and headquartered in Cupertino, California. In fiscal year 2023, Apple generated annual net revenues of $383 billion and net income of $97 billion. Apple’s net income exceeds any other company in the Fortune 500 and the gross domestic products of more than 100 countries.