Apple accused of illegal monopoly

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high.

- MICHAEL LIEDTKE, LINDSAY WHITEHURST AND MIKE BALSAMO

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces a lawsuit against Apple in Washington on Thursday. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, right, said "Apple has locked its consumers into the iPhone while locking its competitors out of the market."

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone market and leverages control over the iPhone to "engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct.”

“Apple has locked its consumers into the iPhone while locking its competitors out of the market,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.