Apple Inc.
American multinational technology company based in Cupertino, California
- Entries
- 22
- On the record
- 14
- Stories
- 1
- Latest entry
- Sep 21, 2026
The record
The Apple settlement most searched in 2025 and 2026 is Lopez v. Apple, a $95 million class settlement over Siri recordings in federal court in Oakland. It covers U.S. owners or buyers of Siri-enabled devices who had an unintended Siri activation during a private conversation between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024, paying up to $20 per device for up to five devices; the claim deadline was July 2, 2025. Judge Jeffrey S. White approved it on October 14, 2025, an objector's appeal was dismissed in November 2025, and the final reissued payments were scheduled for September 21, 2026, to be cashed by November 5, 2026. Apple denies all the allegations.
The other Apple settlement still searched is the iPhone performance case, In re Apple Inc. Device Performance Litigation, over allegations that software updates secretly slowed some iPhone 6, 6s, SE, 7 and 7 Plus models. Apple agreed to pay $310 million to $500 million without admitting wrongdoing. Judge Edward J. Davila approved it in 2021, the Ninth Circuit vacated that approval in 2022 for citing the wrong legal standard, he approved it again in February 2023, and payments began in January 2024, about $92 per claimant, CBS News reported. In 2024 Apple also paid $490 million, without admitting liability, to settle a shareholder suit over statements about iPhone demand in China.
Apple's largest open lawsuit is the United States Department of Justice antitrust case filed in New Jersey in March 2024, which alleges Apple illegally maintains a smartphone monopoly; Judge Julien Neals refused to dismiss it in June 2025. In the Epic Games case, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found in April 2025 that Apple willfully violated her App Store injunction and referred the matter to federal prosecutors for a possible criminal contempt inquiry. The Ninth Circuit upheld the contempt finding in December 2025 but reversed in part, including its outright ban on any commission for linked-out purchases. The Supreme Court agreed to review the contempt ruling and set argument for January 11, 2027.
In Europe, the Commission found in 2016 that Ireland had granted Apple illegal tax benefits worth up to 13 billion euros. The General Court annulled that decision in 2020, but in September 2024 the Court of Justice set the annulment aside and confirmed the Commission's decision. The Commission also fined Apple over 1.8 billion euros in March 2024 over music streaming rules on the App Store, which Apple said it would appeal, and 500 million euros in April 2025 under the Digital Markets Act. Tim Cook has been chief executive since August 2011.
Questions people ask
Who qualifies for the Apple Siri settlement?
U.S. residents who owned or bought a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch or Apple TV and had an unintended Siri activation during a private conversation between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024. Valid claims receive a pro rata share capped at $20 per device for up to five devices, and the claim deadline was July 2, 2025. source
When is the Apple Siri settlement payment?
The settlement administrator says final reissued payments were scheduled to go out on September 21, 2026, must be cashed or deposited by November 5, 2026, and that no further reissue requests are being processed. source
How much did the Apple iPhone slowdown settlement pay?
Payments that began in January 2024 came to $92.17 per claimant, CBS News reported, citing attorney Mark C. Molumphy, more than original estimates. About 3.3 million people filed claims before the October 6, 2020 deadline. source
What is the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against Apple about?
The amended complaint alleges Apple holds 65 percent of the smartphone market and 70 percent of the performance smartphone market and protects that position through restrictions affecting super apps, cloud-streaming apps, text messaging, smartwatches and digital wallets. On June 30, 2025, Judge Julien Neals denied Apple's motion to dismiss. source
Did Apple settle a securities fraud lawsuit?
Yes. On September 18, 2024, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers approved a $490 million settlement of a shareholder class action alleging Apple, Timothy Cook and Luca Maestri made false and misleading statements about iPhone demand and Apple's business in China. The defendants paid without admitting liability. source
Roles and honours on the record
- 2011 Tim Cook named chief executive by the board after Steve Jobs resigned; Jobs elected chairman source
- 1991-2014 Group whose Irish companies Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe received tax rulings found to be State aid source
- 2019-2025 Defendant, Lopez v. Apple, N.D. Cal. No. 4:19-cv-04577-JSW, resolved by a $95 million class settlement source
- 2020-present Defendant and counter-claimant, Epic Games v. Apple, N.D. Cal. No. 4:20-cv-5640; petitioner, Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, U.S. Supreme Court No. 25-1311 source
- 2023-2024 Respondent, Epic Games v. Apple, U.S. Supreme Court No. 23-337 source
- 2024-present Defendant, United States v. Apple, D.N.J. No. 2:24-cv-04055 source
Settlements: who qualifies and the payout
Every entry, newest first
- Filed
Apple and Samsung told Judge Lucy Koh in a court filing that they had settled; terms not disclosed. Biggest celebrity lawsuits ranked: Apple's $1B Samsung win leads
Stories in this file
The record, entry by entry
- 2011-08-24 Official Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive. The board named Tim Cook, previously chief operating officer, as CEO and elected Jobs chairman. Apple Newsroom release
- 2016-08-30 Official The European Commission concluded that Ireland had granted undue tax benefits of up to 13 billion euros to Apple, illegal under EU state aid rules, and ordered Ireland to recover the aid. European Commission press release IP/16/2923
- 2020 Ruled The EU General Court annulled the Commission's 2016 decision, holding that the Commission had not sufficiently established that the Apple companies enjoyed a selective advantage. Court of Justice of the EU, press release No 133/24
- 2021-03-17 Ruled Judge Edward J. Davila granted final approval of the iPhone performance settlement, under which Apple pays a minimum of $310 million and up to $500 million, about $25 per eligible iPhone subject to adjustment, to U.S. owners of certain iPhone 6, 6s, SE, 7 and 7 Plus models. U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., order granting final approval, No. 5:18-md-02827-EJD (administrator copy)
- 2023-02-17 Ruled After the Ninth Circuit vacated the 2021 approval because the order cited the wrong legal standard, Judge Davila approved the iPhone performance settlement again. The order notes the settlement is paid without Apple admitting liability or wrongdoing. U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., order granting renewed final approval (administrator copy)
- 2023-04-24 Ruled The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's bench-trial judgment against Epic Games on its Sherman Act claims and for Epic on its California Unfair Competition Law claim, reversing and remanding only the ruling on Apple's attorney fees claim. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, opinion, No. 21-16506
- 2024-01-05 Official The settlement administrator reported that the Ninth Circuit had dismissed the last remaining appeal, that the iPhone performance settlement took effect on November 5, 2023, and that payments to approved claimants began on January 5, 2024. Court-appointed settlement administrator website
- 2024-01-16 Ruled The U.S. Supreme Court denied Epic Games' petition for a writ of certiorari in its case against Apple. U.S. Supreme Court, docket No. 23-337
- 2024-03-04 Official The European Commission fined Apple over 1.8 billion euros for abusing its dominant position in distributing music streaming apps to iPhone and iPad users, finding that its anti-steering rules barred developers from telling users about cheaper subscriptions outside the app. European Commission press release IP/24/1161
- 2024-03-04 Official Apple said it disagreed with the Commission's decision and would appeal. Apple Newsroom statement
- 2024-03-21 Filed The United States Department of Justice, joined by New Jersey and 15 other states, sued Apple in federal court in New Jersey, alleging it monopolizes the smartphone and performance smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. New Jersey Attorney General press release
- 2024-09-10 Ruled The Court of Justice of the EU set aside the General Court's judgment and gave final judgment confirming the Commission's 2016 decision that Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid, which Ireland is required to recover. Court of Justice of the EU, press release No 133/24, Case C-465/20 P
- 2024-09-18 Ruled Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers approved a $490 million settlement of a shareholder class action alleging Apple, Timothy Cook and Luca Maestri made false and misleading statements about iPhone demand and Apple's business in China, paid without admitting liability, and awarded class counsel $107.8 million in fees. U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., order, No. 4:19-cv-02033-YGR (CourtListener copy)
- 2025-04-23 Official The European Commission found that Apple breached its anti-steering obligation under the Digital Markets Act and fined it 500 million euros. European Commission press release IP/25/1085
- 2025-04-30 Ruled Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in willful violation of the 2021 App Store injunction won by Epic Games, granted Epic's motion to enforce it, and referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney regarding possible criminal contempt. U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., order, No. 4:20-cv-05640-YGR (CourtListener copy)
- 2025-06-30 Ruled Judge Julien Neals denied Apple's motion to dismiss the antitrust suit brought by the United States and the attorneys general of 19 states and the District of Columbia. Apple had argued that the smartphone markets were improperly defined and that the states lacked standing. U.S. District Court, D.N.J., opinion, No. 24-cv-4055 (California Attorney General copy)
- 2025-10-14 Ruled Judge Jeffrey S. White granted final approval of the $95 million Lopez v. Apple settlement over unintended Siri activations, finding the amount fair, adequate and reasonable and overruling the objections. U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., final approval order, No. 4:19-cv-04577-JSW (CourtListener copy)
- 2025-11-25 Ruled The Ninth Circuit granted a motion to voluntarily dismiss an appeal from the Siri settlement approval brought on behalf of a group of opt-outs, and issued its mandate. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, order, No. 25-7160 (CourtListener copy)
- 2025-12-11 Ruled The Ninth Circuit affirmed the contempt finding, holding that Apple's 27 percent commission on linked-out purchases and its link-design limits violated the injunction, but reversed in part because a total ban on any commission did not qualify as a civil contempt sanction in its present form, and remanded. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, opinion, No. 25-2935
- 2026-06-30 Official The U.S. Supreme Court granted Apple's petition for review of the contempt ruling, limited to the first question presented. Justice Kagan denied Apple's application to stay district court proceedings on August 13, 2026, and argument was set for January 11, 2027. U.S. Supreme Court, docket No. 25-1311
- 2026-09-21 Official The Siri settlement administrator scheduled the final reissued payments for September 21, 2026, with a November 5, 2026 deadline to cash or deposit them. The administrator's notice states that Apple denies all of the allegations in the lawsuit. Court-appointed settlement administrator website
Documents
- Final approval order, Lopez v. Apple, N.D. Cal. No. 4:19-cv-04577-JSW (Oct. 14, 2025)
- Order granting renewed final approval, In re Apple Inc. Device Performance Litigation, No. 5:18-md-02827-EJD (Feb. 17, 2023)
- Opinion denying Apple's motion to dismiss, United States v. Apple, D.N.J. No. 24-cv-4055 (June 30, 2025)
- Contempt order, Epic Games v. Apple, N.D. Cal. No. 4:20-cv-05640-YGR (Apr. 30, 2025)
- Ninth Circuit opinion on contempt sanctions, Epic Games v. Apple, No. 25-2935 (Dec. 11, 2025)
- U.S. Supreme Court docket, Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, No. 25-1311
- Order approving the $490 million securities settlement, In re Apple Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 4:19-cv-02033-YGR (Sept. 18, 2024)
- Court of Justice of the EU, judgment in Case C-465/20 P, press release (Sept. 10, 2024)
- European Commission, music streaming antitrust fine (March 4, 2024)
- European Commission, Digital Markets Act non-compliance decision (April 23, 2025)