A federal judge greenlighted a monopoly abuse case against Apple and AT&T Inc.’s mobile phone unit, it can now move forward as a class action suit.
The June 2008 complaint took aim at locking-in iPhones for use on the AT&T network and its control over what iPhone users can install and use on the devices.
The lawsuit also says Apple secretly made AT&T its exclusive iPhone partner in the U.S. for five years. Consumers agreed to two-year contracts but found themselves bound to a half-decade relationship with AT&T, the lawsuit argued.
Judge James Ware of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said parts of the lawsuit that deal with violations to antitrust law can continue as a class action, according to court documents filed July 8.
Anyone who bought an iPhone with a two-year AT&T agreement since the device first went on sale in June 2007 can join the class suit.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to keep Apple from selling locked iPhones in the U.S. and from determining what iPhone programs people can install. It also seeks damages to cover legal fees and other costs.
Will you join this class action suit or not?
Via AP
