Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement after Epic Games filed suit against Apple, alleging that Apple monopolizes the in-app payments market. 

“There is simply no question that Apple functions as a gatekeeper that controls an essential facility for commerce,” said Sarah Miller, Executive Director of the American Economic Liberties Project. “The Epic Games lawsuit against Apple over Apple’s gatekeeping power matters for three reasons. First, it is a critical test of whether judges will continue to rely on outdated pro-monopoly doctrine. Second, it shows how important Congressional investigations are for the credible functioning of the rule of law. This lawsuit, though brought by private plaintiffs instead of government enforcers, relies on documents unearthed by the House Antitrust Subcommittee in its investigation of large technology platforms. And third, it shows why the House Antitrust Subcommittee must be as aggressive as possible as it concludes its investigation into large technology platforms.”

“The Subcommittee’s final report should include strong recommendations on how to address big tech’s gatekeeping power and it should err on the side of revealing more rather than less internal evidence to support its claims,” added Miller. “Further, if there are any gaps in the Subcommittee’s understanding of how these businesses operate, we encourage them to pursue subpoenas to get access to anything else they need.”

Learn more about Economic Liberties and Big Tech Monopolies here. 

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Economic Liberties works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. AELP believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.