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Thanks to some ethically questionable shenanigans from Apple’s top executives, the company was found guilty of violating antitrust laws last July. Since then, the ruing judge assigned a monitor to the iPad maker to ensure that an antitrust compliance program is active and progressing. Today, Michael Bromwich submitted a 77-page report to the U.S. District Court in New York stating that Apple has made a “promising start” to improve its antitrust compliance program.
Bromwich, who famously got off to a bad start with Apple, wrote in the report that the rocky relationship between the two has “significantly improved” since the federal appeals court rejected the iPad maker’s request to stop the monitor’s investigation.
Although the relationship has improved and Apple is making progress, Bromwich claims that his team is still being restricted somewhat. Apple has only allowed contact with a limited number of company employees. The team has yet to meet with senior members of Apple, Inc.
“Based on the information Apple has provided to date, our view is that Apple has made a promising start to enhancing its antitrust compliance program, but that Apple still has much work to do,” Bromwich wrote.
Bromwich was appointed by Judge Cote in October of 2013 to monitor Apple’s antitrust compliance as part of the ruling’s provision on its price-fixing suit. Within a few months, Apple was trying to stop Bromwich from performing his duty, which the company claimed was too much, too soon. Bromwich retaliated with an 11-page document submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stating that Apple was being uncooperative and refused his team access to relevant requested documentation.
In February, the Court denied Apple’s request to stop Bromwich from bringing in his monitoring team, which apparently was good enough for the tech company because they appear to be playing nice with the monitor now.
The report said that Apple has fulfilled one requirement of compliance by hiring in internal antitrust officer, Deena Said, a former Hitachi Ltd. in-house attorney. Bromwich goes on to note that Apple still needs to take further steps, including better record-keeping procedures and providing more information related to training personnel.
Although Apple is working with Bromwich, the company is still trying to stop his team from their activities. An appeal has already been submitted against the monitor, as well as the ruling’s liability findings. Apple is scheduled to appear in court on July 14 for a trial on damages, which law analysts speculate could cost the company as much as $840 million.
[Via: Reuters]
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