SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has hit the play button on antitrust allegations targeting Apple Inc. iPods, sending the case toward trial after nearly 10 years of litigation.
Plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence to show certain iPod models only played music downloaded from the Apple iTunes store, creating a monopoly that allowed the company to overcharge customers, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California ruled Friday. The judge denied Apple’s motion for summary judgment, and the case now proceeds toward a Nov. 17 trial date. Plaintiffs estimate damages at about $350 million.
