Former iTunes Engineer Tells Court Apple Worked to Block Competitors

During an ongoing federal antitrust case Apple is currently facing, a former iTunes engineer testified that he worked on a project that was “intended to block 100% of non-iTunes clients” and “keep out third-party players” that competed with the iPod.

The plaintiffs subpoenaed Rod Schultz, the former engineer, to show that Apple had worked to block any iTunes or iPod competitors. The plaintiffs argue that Apple's action to hurt competition ultimately raising iPod prices from 2006 to 2009.

Schultz testified in an untucked dress shirt and leather jacket, saying he was an unwilling witness. “I did not want to be talking about” his work on iTunes from 2006-2007, part of which was code-named “Candy,” he said.


Schultz, who left Apple in 2008, reiterated Apple's argument that it released many security improvements to iTunes in an effort to protect the user experience. Apple also claimed that record companies forced it to keep the device secure.

Schultz was the final witness in the case. Judge Rogers plans to send the case to the jury for deliberation sometime next week.

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