Overview

• Judge David Dugan ruled the plaintiffs relied on circumstantial allegations and failed to show Apple intended to launch a rival payment network.
• The 2023 lawsuit led by Mirage Wine & Spirits alleged that Visa and Mastercard paid Apple 0.15% on credit and 0.5 cents on debit transactions as a “cash bribe” to preserve high fees.
• Under the court’s order, merchants have 30 days to submit a Second Amended Class Action Complaint or see the case dismissed with prejudice under Rule 41(b).
• Apple did not comment on the ruling, and both Visa and Mastercard declined to respond to requests for comment.
• The decision joins broader antitrust scrutiny of swipe fees and digital payment networks as regulators push to increase competition and lower merchant costs.