Apple has formally requested that a federal judge dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit, which accuses the company of unlawfully dominating the smartphone market. The request was made to U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in Newark, New Jersey, during a hearing where Apple argued that the government's case is baseless and should be dismissed on both antitrust and pleading grounds. Apple contends that the DOJ's allegations are vague and lack merit, asserting that the lawsuit attempts to compel the company to collaborate with competitors by challenging its controls over iPhone app developers. The judge is expected to issue a decision on the dismissal motion by January 2025, following a four-hour hearing where both Apple’s legal team and DOJ prosecutors presented their arguments. The case represents a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech companies and their market practices.