Summary Box: Apple's market clout means scrutiny
Summary Box: Apple's ambitions to dominate 'post-PC' era may attract more antitrust attention
In this photo taken March 7, 2012, the Apple logo is projected during an announcement in San Francisco. Apple has always been a control freak in its business dealings. And now that it has amassed tremendous power, government antitrust regulators in the U.S. and Europe will be closely monitoring the world's most valuable company as it attempts to define and dominate the markets hatched by the iPhone and iPad. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
·Associated PressSCRUTINY: As Apple sets out to define and dominate the markets it created with the iPhone and the iPad, it will likely face antitrust regulators who want to curb its power.
SPECIFIC CASE: The U.S. Justice Department is considering a lawsuit against Apple and five U.S. publishers on allegations they orchestrated a price-fixing scheme on electronic books. The Wall Street Journal broke the news last week.
SIGNIFICANCE: The e-book case demonstrates the market leverage Apple has gained from its system of Internet-connected devices that tie into iTunes, its digital marketplace for mobile applications, books, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, movies and music.
