The Cleveland Cavaliers filed a federal lawsuit against Ticketmaster Inc. on Monday, accusing the broker of acting as a monopoly.

The Cavaliers allege in the lawsuit that Ticketmaster is trying to prevent the team's Flash Seats secondary-ticketing Web site from competing with the ticketing giant.

Flash Seats provides season ticket holders a way to sell and transfer seats electronically -- a system that is superior to Ticketmaster's TeamExchange program, the lawsuit says.

"Ticketmaster is using its market power to exclude competition and inhibit innovation," said Sam Gerace, chief executive officer of Flash Seats. "I can only conclude they're threatened by Flash Seats."