Apple says US antitrust lawsuit should be dismissed By Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Apple said on Tuesday it plans to ask a U.S. judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department and 15 states in March that alleged the iPhone maker monopolized the smartphone market, harming smaller rivals. and drove up prices.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Julien ability to charge supracompetitive prices or restrict production in the event

smartphone markets.”

Apple said the complaint should be dismissed for several reasons. In the letter to the judge, Apple maintains that the Justice Department is relying on a new “theory of antitrust liability that no court has recognized.”

The Justice Department, which did not immediately comment Tuesday, previously said that Apple charges up to $1,599 for an iPhone and makes higher profits than any other company in the industry. Officials also said Apple charges various business partners – from software developers to credit card companies and even rivals like Alphabet's (NASDAQ:) Google – behind the scenes in ways that ultimately drive up prices for customers. consumers and increase Apple's profits.

Apple rejected government claims that the iPhone has kept consumers “locked in” to the devices. “Someone unhappy with Apple's limitations has every incentive to switch to

competing platforms that apparently do not have those limitations,” the letter said.

The Justice Department has said that Apple was forcing consumers to pay more.

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate antitrust laws,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in March. “If left unchecked, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”