KARLSRUHE, Germany (Reuters) - German federal judges indicated on Tuesday that they could back the country's antitrust regulator in a legal battle with Apple, following over three hours of deliberations over whether the U.S. tech giant should be subject to additional controls.

Apple’s lawyers contend that German law, in this context, may not be entirely aligned with broader European Union regulations.

Apple is facing more controls in Germany due to its dominance in the market, as a German federal court has signaled that the country's antitrust regulator could win its legal fight.

Germany's top court is examining whether Apple should be subject to stricter competition control by the country's Federal Cartel Office, with an initial assessment suggesting the tech giant could be in bother.