WASHINGTON: Republican-led legislatures in state after state are passing bills restricting abortion access in a bid to eventually challenge the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling allowing a woman to terminate a pregnancy. Opponents of abortion rights are hoping that the moves will prompt the nation’s highest court, which now has a conservative majority, to overturn its landmark decision in the case known as Roe vs Wade. The latest state to pass abortion restrictions – in fact, the toughest in the entire US – is Alabama, where Republican Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed a bill that places a near-total ban on ending a pregnancy, even in cases of rape and incest. Under the bill doctors who perform abortions could face between 10 and 99 years in prison. Ivey said that for now, the law may be unenforceable because of Roe vs. Wade. But “the sponsors of this bill believe that it is time, once again, for the US Supreme Court to revisit this important matter, and they … [Read more...] about Republicans bid for US Supreme Court showdown over abortion
Brett kavanaugh
Apps cost too much? Court allows suit adding to Apple’s woes
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By Mark Sherman And Michael Liedtke The Associated Press Tues., May 14, 2019 WASHINGTON - Consumers can pursue a lawsuit complaining that iPhone apps cost too much, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday, adding to Apple’s woes that already include falling iPhone sales and a European investigation. The lawsuit could have major implications for the tech giant’s handling of the more than 2 million apps in Apple’s App Store, where users get much of the software for their smartphones. While most of those apps are free to download, some impose fees for people to use the software and subscribe to the services. In those cases, Apple charges a commission of 30%, a practice that the lawsuit contends unfairly drives up the price for the apps. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion that agreed the antitrust lawsuit can move forward in a lower court. The court’s four liberal justices joined Kavanaugh, one of President Donald Trump’s two high … [Read more...] about Apps cost too much? Court allows suit adding to Apple’s woes
US court allows lawsuit on Apple’s App Store monopoly
WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday (May 13) that a consumer lawsuit accusing Apple of illegally monopolising the company's App Store may proceed, opening a new avenue of antitrust litigation against the iPhone manufacturer.In a 5-4 ruling, the justices rejected Apple's argument that consumers lacked standing to proceed with their lawsuit because the tech giant was merely an intermediary with app developers.The class-action lawsuit from 2011 maintains that Apple, which takes a 30 per cent commission on app sales, abuses its monopoly position, resulting in higher prices.The opinion written by the newest court member, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, said consumers had a right to pursue their case because they have a direct relationship with Apple."If a retailer has engaged in unlawful monopolistic conduct that has caused consumers to pay higher-than-competitive prices, it does not matter how the retailer structured its relationship with an upstream manufacturer or supplier," … [Read more...] about US court allows lawsuit on Apple’s App Store monopoly
US court allows consumer lawsuit on Apple marketplace monopoly
WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday (May 13) that a consumer lawsuit accusing Apple of illegally monopolising the company's App Store may proceed, opening a new avenue of antitrust litigation against the iPhone manufacturer.In a 5-4 ruling, the justices rejected Apple's argument that consumers lacked standing to proceed with their lawsuit because the tech giant was merely an intermediary with app developers.The class-action lawsuit from 2011 maintains that Apple, which takes a 30 per cent commission on app sales, abuses its monopoly position, resulting in higher prices.The opinion written by the newest court member, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, said consumers had a right to pursue their case because they have a direct relationship with Apple."If a retailer has engaged in unlawful monopolistic conduct that has caused consumers to pay higher-than-competitive prices, it does not matter how the retailer structured its relationship with an upstream manufacturer or supplier," … [Read more...] about US court allows consumer lawsuit on Apple marketplace monopoly
US Supreme Court allows App Store antitrust suit against Apple
Business The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave the go-ahead for a lawsuit by consumers accusing Apple Inc of monopolizing the market for iPhone software applications and forcing them to overpay, rejecting the company's bid to escape claims that its practices violate federal antitrust law. 13 May 2019 10:15PM (Updated: 13 May 2019 10:20PM) Bookmark WASHINGTON: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave the go-ahead for a lawsuit by consumers accusing Apple Inc of monopolizing the market for iPhone software applications and forcing them to overpay, rejecting the company's bid to escape claims that its practices violate federal antitrust law.The justices, in a 5-4 ruling, upheld a lower court's decision to allow the proposed class action lawsuit to proceed. The plaintiffs said the Cupertino, California-based technology company required apps be sold through its App Store and extracted an excessive 30 percent commission on purchases.Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, an appointee … [Read more...] about US Supreme Court allows App Store antitrust suit against Apple