Apple has moved to obtain internal data from Samsung Electronics in South Korea as part of its ongoing antitrust battle with the U.S. government. Following an unsuccessful attempt to dismiss the case, Apple is now in the discovery phase seeking evidence related to smartphone competition. Apple requested a formal letter of request under the Hague Evidence Convention to access documents from Samsung's Korean parent company.

The case stems from a March 2024 lawsuit where the Department of Justice and several states accused Apple of using App Store rules and iPhone feature controls to limit competition. Apple's US subsidiary previously failed to produce records, claiming they're held only by Samsung Electronics in Korea. The tech giant needs these documents to support its defense against monopoly allegations in smartphone and smartwatch markets.

Apple's filing specifically targets business reports and market analyses regarding Samsung's smartphone, smartwatch, and app store operations. The company argues the evidence is crucial to the litigation and cannot be obtained elsewhere. South Korean authorities would still need to approve the request, and Samsung could raise legal objections. This international legal maneuver highlights how tech giants navigate complex cross-border disputes in the competitive smartphone industry.