Special Master Jose Linares has again ruled in favor of Apple in its antitrust case against the DOJ, denying the government's motion for reconsideration. The dispute centers on Apple's request for documents from 14 federal agencies to support its defense that its practices are legitimate security measures.

Linares rejected the DOJ's arguments that the requests were burdensome and irrelevant, and clarified that the agencies are considered part of the United States for discovery purposes, not third parties. This means the DOJ's objections under Rule 45 were misplaced.

The decision marks a second victory for Apple, which sought to examine how government agencies handle smartphone security. The DOJ had argued that Apple's requests were too broad, but Linares found no merit in those claims.

The ruling allows Apple to proceed with its discovery requests, strengthening its defense that its app store policies and security features are not anti-competitive. The case continues, with this procedural win giving Apple an advantage in gathering evidence.