Unnamed sources say that the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission are wrangling over which agency will take the lead in an inquiry into Apple’s competitive practices. Specifically, the government agencies may announce that they are looking into the question of whether Apple’s Flash ban is anti-competitive.
In light of this news, some industry watchers are wondering if Steve Jobs’ open letter about Flash last week was really a pre-emptive strike in an upcoming legal battle.
Any inquiry, which could be launched in the next couple of days, is only the most preliminary step government agencies take before deciding to launch an actual investigation.