After Apple lost its ebook antitrust case against the Department of Justice, it was forced to allow an outside, court-appointed monitor into its ranks, as a way of ensuring it complied with the ruling. The relationship has been tumultuous, to say the very least, but it may be coming to an end: Bloomberg reports that the Department of Justice has recommended the monitorship not be extended.

According to Bloomberg, the department said Apple had successfully "implemented" changes after being found guilty in 2013 of an ebooks price-fixing conspiracy. The company reportedly stopped short of saying it had not cooperated with the monitor, but agreed that the relationship between the two was "rocky at times."

Most observers agree that was the case. Apple and the monitor, Michael Bromwich, argued over the proper compensation and scope of the monitor's job, with the company eventually trying to oust him entirely. (It didn't succeed.)

Last month, it was revealed that Apple is preparing to ask the Supreme Court to hear an appeal on the antitrust ruling.