Apple wants Samsung's help in ongoing antitrust fight with the US government

iPhone maker Apple wants Samsung's help in a US antitrust lawsuit. The Cupertino-based tech giant has reportedly appealed to obtain internal Samsung data from South Korea as part of its ongoing antitrust fight with the US government over alleged monopoly practices.In a recent filing (seen by 9to5Mac), Apple asked the court to issue a formal request under international law to access documents from Samsung Electronics in South Korea. This comes after Samsung's US subsidiary refused to provide records, claiming that only its Korean parent company possesses the requested materials.The Apple filing read, “Apple Inc. (“Apple”) respectfully requests that this Court issue the accompanying Letter of Request under the Hague Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (“Hague Evidence Convention”) to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung Electronics”) in the Republic of Korea. Apple’s Letter of Request seeks internal business reports, market analyses, and data regarding Samsung’s smartphone, smartwatch, and app store businesses. Apple has already subpoenaed Samsung Electronics’ domestic subsidiary, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (“Samsung America” or “SEA”), but Samsung America has objected to all of Apple’s document requests on the basis that it will not produce documents purportedly in the sole possession, custody, or control of Samsung Electronics.”Apple's request is based on the Hague Evidence Convention, which allows courts to obtain evidence from foreign parties in civil and business cases.The US Department of Justice and several states filed a case in March 2024, linking the event to their actions. They said that Apple's App Store policies, developer agreements, and control over some parts of the iPhone were making it harder for other companies to compete.After Apple asked the court to dismiss the case, it moved to the discovery stage, where both sides can share evidence and documents.Apple can learn more about how the markets for iPhones, smartwatches, and apps on the Galaxy Store work by analysing Samsung's internal data. The business says that these records could show how competitive the market is, how often users switch between platforms, and whether the regulators' claims about Apple's policies are true.In the document, Apple noted:The Hague Convention process has surfaced in similar cases before. Earlier this year, South Korea declined a request from xAI seeking documents from Kakao, citing concerns that the demand was too broad.Even if the US court approves Apple's request, South Korean authorities will still need to grant clearance. Samsung may also contest the request under local laws, potentially impacting the eventual sharing of the documents.