The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a response criticizing Apple's recent request to obtain evidence from Samsung in South Korea in the ongoing antitrust case. Apple sought documents from Samsung Electronics' Korean parent company after Samsung's U.S. subsidiary claimed the records were held overseas.

Apple argued these documents would clarify market competitiveness and user switching patterns in the smartphone and smartwatch markets. The company filed a petition under the Hague Evidence Convention, which allows U.S. courts to request foreign evidence in civil cases. However, the DOJ contends Apple waited too long to make this request, filing nine months into the discovery process.

The DOJ emphasized that the complex foreign judicial process should not justify extending the close of fact discovery or delaying the trial. While the department takes no position on whether the court should issue the letter of request, it warned that Apple should bear the risk of evidence not returning in time. This legal battle centers on allegations that Apple engaged in monopoly practices in the smartphone and smartwatch markets.