The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) on Thursday. The lawsuit alleges that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by restricting competitors’ access to iPhone hardware and software features. What Happened: The DOJ’s lawsuit, expected to be filed in federal court, will be the third antitrust case against Apple in the last 14 years, reported Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. This is the first case accusing Apple of illegally maintaining its dominant position. The DOJ initiated the current case in 2019 und…