US accuses Apple of ‘broad, sustained, and illegal’ smartphone monopoly

Justice department lawsuit alleges tech giant illegally prevented competition by restricting access to its software and hardware

The US government on Thursday filed a sprawling antitrust case against Apple, alleging that the tech giant has illegally prevented competition by restricting access to its software and hardware. The case is a direct challenge to the company's core products and practices, including its iMessage service and how devices such as the iPhone and Apple Watch connect with one another.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone market and uses its control over the iPhone to engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct". The complaint states that the case is about freeing smartphone markets" from Apple's anticompetitive practices, arguing that the company has thwarted innovation to maintain market dominance.