(Reuters) -Apple ( AAPL ) on Thursday asked a U.S. judge to dismiss federal and state antitrust regulators' lawsuit accusing the iPhone maker of illegally monopolizing the smartphone market, saying the case seeks "judicial redesign" of the popular smartphone.

The Justice Department, 19 states and Washington, D.C., accuse Apple ( AAPL ) of an illegal monopoly on smartphones maintained by imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access from, developers.

In the motion filed in a Newark, New Jersey federal court, the company argued putting "reasonable limitations" on third party developers' access to its technology did not amount to anti-competitive behavior.

U.S. District Judge Julien Neals, who oversees the case, will receive a response from the government and a reply from Apple ( AAPL ) before deciding the motion later this year.