A judge in the U.S. granted Apple's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the company by the creator of an alternative App Store that allows users to gain root filesystem access. The motion was granted with a leave to amend, with a deadline of January 19 to file an amended complaint if he exercises the option.
The App Store is the only authorized marketplace where users can download apps on the iPhone and iPad, which is why the company has an illegal monopoly over app distribution, according to the lawsuit. He alleged that Apple tried to snuff out alternative app stores.
The App Store was launched in early 2008. The app allows users to install apps outside of the App Store, as well as modify the look and function of the device. The Control Center on the iPhone was similar to a tweak on the Cydia store called "SbSettings".
The lawsuit claimed that Cydia was the first comprehensive solution for expanding the iPhone's capabilities, but early members of the jailbreaking community might argue that the Installer app was the true first.
A growing number of developers have sued Apple for alleged anticompetitive behavior.
When the complaint was first filed, an Apple spokesman denied that the company was a monopoly given that it faces competition from other platforms. The App Store has been promoted by Apple as a way to protect users from fraud and malicious software.
Apple has until February 2 to respond to an amended complaint, according to Gonzalez Rogers.
