Tech giant Apple is being sued by the US Department of Justice for what it has called 'a monopoly over the smartphone market', ITV News Amy Lewis reportsThe US Department of Justice has brought a landmark case against Apple, accusing the tech giant of allegedly monopolising the smartphone market by blocking competition and inadvertently impacting consumers, developers and rival companies.
The lawsuit alleges that this has inflated the price of the devices for consumers - "$1,599 for an iPhone" with a "high margins on each one, more than double those of others in the industry" it states, all the while suffocating competition.
The US Department of Justice has brought two prior cases against the tech giant, both over the company's business practices. “If left unchallenged. Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly,” Mr Garland added.The lawsuit could take years to reach fruition, but it's looking to restore a fair and competitive atmosphere, asking the court to prevent Apple from “using the terms and conditions of its contracts with developers, accessory makers, consumers, or others to obtain, maintain, extend, or entrench a monopoly.