Read the 4 emails from Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and Apple execs cited in the DOJ's antitrust case

The US DOJ launched a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of using anti-competitive tactics to dominate the smartphone market. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

• Apple is facing a federal antitrust lawsuit.
• In legal documents, the DOJ cites internal Apple emails as evidence of anti-competitive tactics.

The US Department of Justice is suing Apple, accusing it of using anti-competitive practices to dominate the smartphone market.

In court documents, prosecutors cited some internal Apple emails to back some of their allegations.

The DOJ and 16 attorney generals allege the iPhone maker — one of the biggest tech companies in the world — has illegally maintained a smartphone monopoly by "delaying, degrading, or outright blocking" other technology in the smartphone market," according to the lawsuit.

An Apple spokesperson responded to the lawsuit, saying it was "wrong on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend against it."

The DOJ referenced everything from Apple's smartwatch compatibility to those annoying green text message bubbles as evidence of the tech giant's illegal moves.

Internal messages were included in the legal filing as well. Here are passages from the four emails sent by Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and other Apple execs.