SaiyanGoku
kamehameha!!
cbc.ca/news/business/us-justice-dept-apple-1.7150800
Not sure what the outcome of this lawsuit will be but if it forces Apple to stop manufacturing more e-waste, especially after EU forced Apple to adapt USB-c, it might be a win for the end consumer.
The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of "unlawful exclusionary behaviour" by engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors and stifles innovation.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, alleges that Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone market and uses its control over the iPhone to "engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct."
The lawsuit — which was also filed with attorneys general from 15 states as well as D.C. — takes direct aim at the digital fortress that Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., has assiduously built around the iPhone and other popular products such as the iPad, Mac and Apple Watch to create what is often referred to as a "walled garden."
Apple has defended the walled garden — meticulously designed hardware and software that can seamlessly flourish together while requiring consumers to do little more than turn on the devices — as an indispensable feature prized by consumers who want the best protection available for their personal information.
It has described the barrier as a way for the iPhone to distinguish itself from devices running on Google's Android software, which isn't as restrictive and is licensed to a wide range of manufacturers.
Antitrust regulators made it clear in their complaint that they see Apple's walled garden most as a weapon to ward off competition, creating market conditions that enable it to charge higher prices that have propelled its lofty profit margins while stifling innovation.
Not sure what the outcome of this lawsuit will be but if it forces Apple to stop manufacturing more e-waste, especially after EU forced Apple to adapt USB-c, it might be a win for the end consumer.