The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple Inc.'s "smartphone monopoly" on Thursday, confirming The New York Times report.
"For years, Apple responded to competitive threats by imposing a series of 'Whac-A-Mole' contractual rules and restrictions that have allowed Apple to extract higher prices from consumers, impose higher fees on developers and creators, and to throttle competitive alternatives from rival technologies," the lawsuit filed in a New Jersey federal court by the DoJ and 16 state attorney generals reads.
The DoJ added that the company has made it harder for users to switch away from its products by blocking rival innovative apps. Additionally, Apple has enforced limitations on cross-platform messaging, hindered the availability of cloud streaming services, restricted compatibility with smartwatches, and reduced support for non-Apple smart devices.
The company's stocks fell 3.31% at 11:00 am ET.
