On Tuesday, Apple said that it would seek to dismiss a lawsuit claiming iPhone market monopolization, harm to competitors, and higher prices.

Apple wrote a letter to U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals in New Jersey stating that it is not a monopolist and faces strong competition from well-established rivals. The letter also stated that the complaint does not accuse Apple of having the ability to enforce limitations on production or charge prices that are higher than those of competitors in the smartphone markets mentioned.

Apple says the DOJ is using a new antitrust theory, but no court has accepted it.

The court requires parties to submit the Apple letter, and the government is expected to reply within seven days. The aim is to quickly advance cases instead of trying to dismiss lawsuits, which would be more complex and expensive.

The Justice Department says that Apple is using its strong position in the market to get more money from small businesses, retailers, developers, artists, publishers, and consumers. Apple is accused of maintaining an illegal monopoly on smartphones in a civil case. This is done by imposing contractual limitations on developers and denying them access to important features.

The Justice Department has previously argued that Apple makes more profit than its competitors, charging up to $1,599 for an iPhone. They have not yet responded. Apple imposes undisclosed fees on various business partners, such as credit card providers, software developers, and even competitors like Google, which ultimately increases costs for customers.

The government's claims that the iPhone has kept users "locked in" to the gadgets were denied by Apple. The letter said that anyone unhappy with Apple's rules could switch to other platforms without those rules.

AG Merrick Garland stated in March that consumers shouldn't have to pay more because businesses broke antitrust laws. Apple's stranglehold on smartphones will only get stronger if it is not challenged.