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The Department of Justice has filed a landmark lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech company of monopolizing the smartphone market and \u201cthrottling competition\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) filed the lawsuit on March 21 in New Jersey, alleging that the tech giant used its control of the iPhone to limit competitors and consumer options. This is illegal in the United States and has, according to the lawsuit, resulted in blocking the growth of new apps and smartphones on the market.<\/p>\n
Specifically, the lawsuit states that Apple used \u201ca series of shapeshifting rules\u201d in a bid to \u201cthwart innovation\u201d and \u201cthrottle\u201d competitors. Some of the steps taken by the company allegedly include blocking competitor apps, suppressing mobile cloud streaming services, limiting third-party digital wallets, and \u201cdiminishing the functionality\u201d of non-Apple smartwatches.<\/p>\n
In a public statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the company \u201cundermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone\u2026 and lower costs for consumers and developers\u201d. He added that Apple had \u201cmaintained its monopoly, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust laws\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cApple creates barriers that make it extremely difficult and expensive for both users and developers to venture outside the Apple ecosystem,\u201d Mr Garland added.<\/p>\n
Apple has stated it will fight the lawsuit and denies the claims outright. A spokesman for the company, Fred Sainz, told US media that the lawsuit was \u201cwrong on the facts and the law\u201d and that Apple would \u201cvigorously defend against it\u201d, as reported by the BBC.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets,\u201d Mr Sainz said. \u201cIf successful, it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple.\u201d<\/p>\n This marks the third time Apple has been sued by the justice department since 2009 and comes after Apple recently faced a $2 billion lawsuit in the UK and a $539 million fine in the EU following an antitrust probe.<\/p>\n