Apple Seeks Samsung South Korea’s Internal Records as App Store Practices Face DOJ Antitrust Scrutiny: Report

Apple said that Samsung’s internal documents could show how competitive the smartphone market really is.

Reports say that Apple has gone to a US court to get internal documents from Samsung Electronics in South Korea. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently suing the company for antitrust violations, and this move is said to be related to that case. The tech giant based in Cupertino wants access to market data and internal business records, which it says are necessary to defend itself against accusations of unfair competition in the App Store and the iPhone ecosystem.

Apple Wants Samsung’s Information in an Antitrust Case
The DOJ and several states sued Apple in March 2024, saying that the company used App Store rules, developer restrictions, and control over important iPhone features to limit competition in the smartphone and services markets (via MacRumors). The case moved into discovery after Apple tried to have it thrown out. This is a time when businesses share documents and gather proof, which is important.

According to a filing from April 7, Apple asked for a formal Letter of Request under the Hague Evidence Convention. The iPhone maker is using the legal system to get Samsung Electronics’ internal records by getting evidence from companies outside of the US. These are said to include market research, financial data, and analyses of how smartphones, smartwatches, and app stores work.

The iPhone maker had already asked Samsung Electronics America, Samsung’s US branch, to hand over documents, but the branch refused. At the time, it said that only its South Korean parent company had the requested materials. Apple said that this objection came up several times in its responses.

The company said that Samsung’s internal documents could show how competitive the smartphone market really is, such as how users switch between platforms and how Apple’s policies affect the market. According to reports, the filing specifically mentions tools like Samsung’s Smart Switch.

It lets people move data from an iPhone to a Galaxy device, which, according to the tech giant, gives them useful information about how people use their devices. The company that makes the iPhone is also looking for papers about Samsung’s Galaxy Store, messaging services, and digital wallet services, such as details about transaction fees.

Apple said in its filing that the evidence it wants is very important to the case. It also said that the request is very specific and that there are no other ways to get the information. The tech giant said that making the request would help the US without hurting South Korea’s legal system.