Apple asks a New Jersey judge to compel the U.S. government to turn over documents from 14 federal agencies for its defense in the DOJ antitrust case. The 2024 lawsuit alleges Apple monopolizes the iPhone market by restricting apps, services and accessories. Apple says agency assessments of privacy, security and market differentiators prove its practices benefit competition.

Apple cites two discovery routes—Rule 34 party discovery and Rule 45 subpoenas—to argue the documents are discoverable regardless of how courts classify the agencies. It requests records on how agencies evaluate and purchase smartphones, concerns about non‑Apple OSes, pricing data, and involvement in Apple’s internal developer program. The company says the government has produced no documents despite multiple attempts.

The U.S. government counters that the agencies—some in the intelligence community—do not regulate smartphones, making the requests irrelevant and overly burdensome. It warns that complying would entail searching classified or privileged material, imposing “extraordinary effort” on taxpayers. The government asks the court to quash the subpoenas, arguing the discovery dispute should be dismissed.

The judge’s ruling will determine whether Apple can leverage government analyses in its legal strategy, potentially shaping how tech companies use public sector data in antitrust defenses.