Feds Accuse Apple of Monopolizing Smartphone Market
Apple illegally maintains a monopoly of the smartphone market by thwarting app development and making customers dependent on the iPhone, the Justice Department alleged in an antitrust lawsuit filed against the company.
The complaint accuses Apple of violating the Sherman Act by unfairly monopolizing smartphones, according to a press release by the DOJ. It was filed this week in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey by Attorney General Merrick Garland and 16 other state attorneys general.
“Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers,” the DOJ’s release reads. “Through this monopolization lawsuit, the Justice Department and state Attorneys General are seeking relief to restore competition to these vital markets on behalf of the American public.”