DOJ accuses Apple of monopoly in antitrust lawsuit [Video]

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Justice Department announced Thursday that they are suing Apple in an antitrust case, saying that the iPhone maker has a monopoly over the phone market that harmed consumers, developers and rival companies.

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies break the law,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Garland claims Apple is blocking rival companies from accessing hardware and software features of its phones.

“If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly. But there’s a law for that,” Garland said. 

The DOJ accuses Apple of limiting the function of third-party software and smartwatches and reducing the quality of messaging between iPhones and other smartphones.

“We allege that Apple has consolidated its monopoly power not by making its own products better, but by making other products worse,” Garland said. 

Carl Szabo with NetChoicedisagrees with the lawsuit and says the DOJ will have a …