Apple agrees to submit India financials in antitrust case where CCI found iPhone maker abused its market position
Apple has agreed to hand over its local financial data to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), a report has said, adding that the decision comes after a confidential CCI investigation concluded that the iPhone maker had abused its market position regarding the App Store. The move clears a hurdle in the high-profile case, bringing Apple one step closer to a potential penalty decision in one of its most critical global growth markets.
Citing a confidential CCI order, Apple requested a “final extension” during a hearing to compile and submit its “India-specific financial information”. The antitrust body has accepted the request, giving the iPhone maker until June 25 to hand over the data, which it typically used to calculate financial penalties.
What is the case and reason for delay
The case originally began in 2021 after complaints were filed by a non-profit group, Tinder-owner Match Group, and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), which is a coalition representing Indian startups. The core of the dispute centres around Apple’s in-app billing system, with investigators calling the App Store an “unavoidable trading partner” that unfairly blocks developers from using cheaper, third-party payment services.
Previously, Apple flatly refused to supply its financial details and denied any wrongdoing. The company had been attempting to delay the antitrust proceedings while launching a separate court battle, the report noted. The CCI is empowered to penalize companies based on their total global turnover rather than just their revenue within India – and it may amount to up to $38 billion fine. However, the CCI repeatedly pushed back, clarifying that it only required Apple’s India-specific financials to move forward.
Citing a confidential CCI order, Apple requested a “final extension” during a hearing to compile and submit its “India-specific financial information”. The antitrust body has accepted the request, giving the iPhone maker until June 25 to hand over the data, which it typically used to calculate financial penalties.
What is the case and reason for delay
The case originally began in 2021 after complaints were filed by a non-profit group, Tinder-owner Match Group, and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), which is a coalition representing Indian startups. The core of the dispute centres around Apple’s in-app billing system, with investigators calling the App Store an “unavoidable trading partner” that unfairly blocks developers from using cheaper, third-party payment services.
Previously, Apple flatly refused to supply its financial details and denied any wrongdoing. The company had been attempting to delay the antitrust proceedings while launching a separate court battle, the report noted. The CCI is empowered to penalize companies based on their total global turnover rather than just their revenue within India – and it may amount to up to $38 billion fine. However, the CCI repeatedly pushed back, clarifying that it only required Apple’s India-specific financials to move forward.
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