BlueMail Antitrust Case Against Apple Dismissed

An antitrust lawsuit leveled at Apple by Blix Inc. has been dismissed by a federal judge, in what appears to be a major setback for developers accusing Apple of malpractice with its App Store (via Bloomberg).

bluemail mac app store

BlueMail was removed from the Mac App Store in June 2019 after Apple found the app to be in violation of several ‌App Store‌ Review Guidelines, including "proposing to override basic data security protections which can expose users' computers to malware that can harm their Macs and threaten their privacy." Just days later, BlueMail was restored to the Mac App Store.

Blix Inc., developer of the email app BlueMail, then filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of manipulating search results in its iOS and macOS App Stores to suppress third-party competition and push consumers towards Apple's own apps. Blix also alleged that Apple copied patented messaging technology for its "Sign In With Apple" feature before removing BlueMail from the ‌App Store‌.

Judge Leonard P. Stark of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware dismissed the claims, concluding Blix had failed to offer direct or indirect evidence of Apple's monopoly power or anticompetitive conduct in violation of the Sherman Act.

"Allegations that Apple has the power to restrict competition aren't equivalent to allegations that the company actually did restrict competitors' output", Judge Stark wrote. "Even if Blix had plausibly alleged that Apple held a monopoly over apps, its failure to allege anticompetitive conduct provides an independent reason to dismiss its claims."

Judge Stark said Blix's anticompetitive-conduct claims failed because the company itself demonstrated that the ‌App Store‌ isn't essential to BlueMail's success. Blix told the court that BlueMail had achieved success on a range of platforms, and was sold on the market for five years before becoming available on the ‌App Store‌.

Moreover, Judge Stark dismissed the claims of patent infringement on the basis that they do not fall under an exception to patent eligibility that allows for abstract ideas to be patented if they describe a "unique and inventive concept."

The case may set a precedent for similar antitrust lawsuits against Apple by developers, such as the ongoing case brought forward by Epic Games against Apple.

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
iphone fold 3d print

Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy

Tuesday December 23, 2025 1:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far. On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 iPhone Fold replica (via Macworld), ...
iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean

Apple Discontinued These 25 Products This Year

Wednesday December 24, 2025 7:24 am PST by
With the end of 2025 near, the time has come to look back at the devices and accessories that Apple discontinued throughout the year. Most of the products that were discontinued this year were simply replaced by a new model with an updated chip. However, the iPhone SE line was entirely discontinued when the iPhone 16e launched, and the iPhone Plus line is being phased out. Below, we have...

Top Rated Comments

PickUrPoison Avatar
66 months ago

Personally I think someone should go after Apple for disallowing reviews of their own apps. They’re afraid of criticism.

and yea, they do prioritize Apple apps over third party ones. I don’t see how this lawsuit failed.
So Apple’s making a fortune selling their mail app unfairly against Bluemail?

How can the lawsuit not have failed? They failed to provide any evidence whatsoever to support their claim. That’s how they lost.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
66 months ago

Personally I think someone should go after Apple for disallowing reviews of their own apps. They’re afraid of public criticism. It’s disgusting.
I can leave reviews on Apple apps just fine. Apps like Mail, Music, etc aren't apps on the store, it's a technical facility to enable you to restore core apps.


and yea, they do prioritize Apple apps over third party ones in search results. I don’t see how this lawsuit failed. They must of had super bad lawyers to screw up a case like this.
If I search for "spreadsheets" in the iOS store, Numbers is the eighth result. If I search for "Numbers" it's the first result - because it's good UX to return what someone likely wants.

Any more bottomless claims?
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
66 months ago

Personally I think someone should go after Apple for disallowing reviews of their own apps. They’re afraid of public criticism. It’s disgusting.

and yea, they do prioritize Apple apps over third party ones in search results. I don’t see how this lawsuit failed. They must of had super bad lawyers to screw up a case like this.


oh, and don’t forget removing user reviews from the Apple online Store too... but I guess that’s another issue on it’s own. Still shows crybaby Apple being afraid of even the slightest bit of criticism though.
These are all lies. You can review apple‘s apps (Just not the ones built into the OS - what would be the point of that?). And search for spreadsheet - numbers comes up 8th. Search for word processor - pages comes up 10th. Search for “make music” - garage band comes up 10th. Search for “video editor” - iMovie comes up 24th.

If they are prioritizing their own apps they are doing a lousy job of it.

If they are removing your reviews, it’s likely because they have properties similar to your post.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PickUrPoison Avatar
66 months ago
Why bother filing when you have zero evidence to support your claims?

Oh yeah, publicity—which is all this joke of a case was ever about ?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
m4mario Avatar
66 months ago
Hurray. Sensibility prevails.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ritsuka Avatar
66 months ago

Personally I think someone should go after Apple for disallowing reviews of their own apps. They’re afraid of public criticism. It’s disgusting.

and yea, they do prioritize Apple apps over third party ones in search results. I don’t see how this lawsuit failed. They must of had super bad lawyers to screw up a case like this.


oh, and don’t forget removing user reviews from the Apple online Store too... but I guess that’s another issue on it’s own. Still shows crybaby Apple being afraid of even the slightest bit of criticism though.
Apple's apps sold on the App Store can be reviewed. The built-in apps are not sold on the App Store.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)