Apple's iPhone empire spans the globe—and so does legal pushback. How it started is a tale from 1998 when Microsoft was under antitrust scrutiny for targeting Apple. Fast forward to today: Apple’s App Store and its tight control over iOS have faced numerous antitrust challenges, with Epic Games leading the charge.

In an industry full of sprawling tech empires, the basic argument against Apple is simple: it's become a gatekeeper to billions of people's primary computing hardware. Critics argue that Apple keeps competitors locked out while taking a heavy toll on developers through its App Store commission, pejoratively known as the “Apple Tax.”

Regulators and courts around the world have ordered changes at Apple, particularly around the App Store. One of Apple’s highest-profile antitrust battles was with Epic in 2020, but despite a judge's ruling in favour of some reforms, Apple has dragged its feet, spending years fighting over small losses.

Elsewhere, the EU Digital Markets Act demanded changes from Apple, leading to fines and restrictions. Despite these challenges, tangible changes have been slow to arrive. For example, in mid-2025, Amazon was able to include “Get Book” links in its Kindle iOS app due to a US court order.

As the legal battles continue, one wonders if, in the age of tech giants, we’re all just playing a game designed by one powerful player. The question remains: who’s winning?