The North American government filed a lawsuit against Apple last Thursday over monopolistic and anti-competitive practices linked to the iPhone, an action that the multinational company denied.

The text issued by the Department of Justice and submitted to a federal court in New Jersey stated that “all of the decisions taken by Apple established and strengthened the defenses that protect its monopoly in the field of smartphones.”

“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate antitrust laws,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

He added: “If this does not change, Apple will continue to strengthen its monopoly on smartphones.”

The lawsuit, brought by the Justice Department and 16 state attorneys general, accuses Apple of restricting access to the technology it uses for iPhones in a way that increases costs for consumers and discourages potential competitors from launching other smartphones in the United States.

Apple, which is headquartered in Cupertino, California, denied the accusations while its shares, part of 30 companies listed in the Dow Jones index on the New York Stock Exchange, recorded a 3.55% decline at 4:30 pm (10:30 GMT). . Lisbon).

“This lawsuit threatens our identity and the principles that differentiate Apple products in highly competitive markets,” Apple said, also noting that if the lawsuit is successful, it sets a “dangerous precedent,” giving the government the power to interfere in the design of technology.