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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 51025, member: 636"] A federal judge crushed beverage retailer Mirage Wine & Spirits after the company tried taking down tech giant Apple alongside payment processors Visa and Mastercard. The Illinois merchant joined forces with other business owners to file a conspiracy lawsuit claiming the three corporations rigged the payment game against competitors. Southern District of Illinois court officials tossed out the case and handed the defendants a complete legal victory. The ruling left the plaintiffs scrambling to rebuild their accusations from scratch. Merchants had accused Apple of collecting secret payoffs from credit card companies to avoid building competing payment systems. Court documents revealed that retailers believed Apple deliberately blocked rivals from using iPhone tap-to-pay technology to protect Visa and Mastercard profits. The companies allegedly struck deals ensuring Apple Pay would rely exclusively on established payment networks rather than creating independent alternatives. Plaintiffs argued that Apple pocketed 0.15 percent of every credit transaction and half a cent per debit purchase processed through the system. Federal officials determined the merchants failed to present solid evidence supporting their bribery claims. The judge ruled that accusations amounted to nothing more than wild speculation without factual backing. Legal experts pointed out that building payment networks requires massive technical expertise and regulatory approval processes. The court concluded that complexity alone explains why Apple partners with existing companies instead of developing separate infrastructure. Retailers received a 30-day deadline to revise their complaints and submit stronger evidence for a second attempt. The case faces permanent dismissal if merchants cannot meet the amended filing requirements within the specified timeframe. [/QUOTE]

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