There's a familiar old saying, "If you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door."
It's a metaphor for the capitalist system. Do a great job and you will prosper.
These days, though, it looks like if you build a much better mousetrap, you may run afoul with the U.S. Department of Justice.
On Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the U.S. is suing Apple because its business practices have made its iPhone too successful.
The Justice Department's argument is that Apple fostered a monopoly with it's iPhone by creating a closed system that tries to tie users to he companies other products and services. The Apple Watch, for example, doesn't work with other phones. It stifles competition, the feds say.
Other smart phone makers might agree. The thing is, there are several of them. Users have a choice to avoid the iPhone and buy a Motorola Razr or Droid. Maybe a Samsung Galaxy or Nokia Android. Or any of the other, smaller brands.
They all have apps and related tech. All the bells and whistles.
Consumers aren't mice and Apple didn't trap them. Anyone with an iPhone chose that brand over it's competitors.
They stick with the iPhone for the same reason. And of they want to "escape" Apple's trap, these days it's pretty easy to trade in an iPhone for the latest model from any of competing brands at a deep discount -- in some cases even for free.
Once upon a time, Blackberry ruled the cell phone market. Then the iPhone came along. Apple built a better mousetrap and the people flocked to it.
Of course Apple is going to do what it can to optimize profits on it's technology. But the way to increase competition is not for the government to kill Apple's golden goose. It's for some rival smartphone maker to step up its game and create a better mousetrap.