Suit accuses Apple, AT&T of monopoly

SUIT ACCUSES APPLE, AT&T OF MONOPOLY
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
Complaints over Apple's use restrictions and recent software update for the iPhone have erupted in two lawsuits alleging Apple and its carrier partner, AT&T, engaged in illegal monopolistic behavior. Two separate lawsuits were filed in San Jose — one in federal court and the other in state court and both seeking class-action status. The federal case accuses the companies of unfair business practices and violations of antitrust, telecommunications and warranty laws. The state case raises some of the same allegations. By not allowing consumers to modify their iPhones to work on other carrier networks, the two companies conspired from the beginning of their partnership to maintain a monopoly, the federal lawsuit alleges. The companies are unlawfully restricting consumer choice by preventing users from "unlocking" their iPhones, and Apple intentionally disabled unofficial third-party programs or rendered unlocked phones useless with its software update, the lawsuit alleges.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071011/ap_on_hi_te/apple_at_t_iphone_lawsuit;_ylt=Ap0ExP1PG.gs0hacqYkDBsUjtBAF