Apple Accuses CCI Investigation Team of Copying Rivals’ Claims
Apple has escalated its legal dispute with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), accusing the antitrust watchdog’s investigation team of not conducting an impartial examination into the company’s App Store activities but instead depending on accusations made by competitors.
In a thorough response to the CCI on June 25, Apple claimed that investigators had “copy-pasted” submissions from complainants, including Match Group, PhonePe, and Paytm, while concluding that the company had broken India’s competition laws, according to regulatory filings examined by Reuters.
Apple Rejects 2024 CCI Investigation Report
The complaint is based on a 2024 investigation report by the Director General of the CCI, which concluded that Apple had exploited its dominant position in the iOS app ecosystem by enforcing stringent App Store standards and demanding developers to adopt its proprietary payment method.
Apple has refuted the accusations, claiming that assertions of dominance are not warranted given its market position in India. The company claimed in its reply that it makes up less than 6% of the smartphone market in India and insisted that the investigation’s findings were primarily based on complaints from rivals rather than an unbiased evaluation by the regulator.
Apple Warns of Impact on India’s Digital Economy
Additionally, the iPhone manufacturer cautioned that imposing modifications on the App Store’s operating model may upset its integrated ecosystem, lead to regulatory ambiguity, and deter investment in India’s digital economy. It asked the CCI to disregard the findings of the probe.
Apple further asserted that the investigative team repeated remarks from competitors “verbatim” on multiple occasions and failed to independently verify the information. Additionally, it said that parts of the Indian inquiry, including visuals and market data from Statista, were similar to aspects of a 2024 European Union antitrust decision against Apple.
Apple Seeks Equal Opportunity to Present Its Case
Additionally, the company claimed that, in contrast to Google’s Android antitrust proceedings, where the company was given many hearings to explain its business model, it was not given the chance to offer oral evidence throughout the investigation.
Apple has been accused by the CCI of procrastinating its responses to the inquiry report and contesting parts of India’s competition law in order to prolong the proceedings. On July 21, all parties involved in the lawsuit will have a closed-door hearing.
Apple Faces Possible Penalty if Found Guilty
Apple may be fined up to 10% of its relevant turnover for the preceding three fiscal years if it is found guilty of breaking competition law. As part of the proceedings, the company has provided its India turnover information for the fiscal years 2022 to 2024.
Noting that it has shipped iPhones valued at USD 51 billion from India over the previous five years, Apple also emphasised its rising contribution to the country’s manufacturing economy. India is predicted to account for 26% of the world’s iPhone production in 2026, up from 6% four years prior, according to Counterpoint Research, highlighting the nation’s growing significance in Apple’s worldwide supply chain.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Apple |
| Regulator Involved | Competition Commission of India (CCI) |
| Nature of Dispute | Apple has challenged the CCI’s antitrust investigation into its App Store practices. |
| Apple’s Main Allegation | Apple claims the investigation relied on “copy-pasted” allegations from competitors instead of conducting an independent analysis. |
| Complainants Named | Match Group, PhonePe, and Paytm |
| Investigation Report | 2024 report by the CCI’s Director General |
| CCI’s Findings | Apple allegedly abused its dominant position in the iOS App Store ecosystem by imposing restrictive App Store policies and requiring developers to use its proprietary payment system. |
| Apple’s Defense | Apple argues it holds less than 6% of India’s smartphone market and therefore cannot be considered dominant. |
| Reason for Rejecting Findings | Apple says the conclusions were based on competitors’ complaints rather than impartial evidence. |
| App Store Concern | Apple warned that changing its App Store model could disrupt its integrated ecosystem, create regulatory uncertainty, and discourage investment in India’s digital economy. |
| Additional Allegation | Apple claims investigators repeated competitors’ statements “verbatim” and failed to independently verify the information. |
| Reference to EU Case | Apple says parts of the Indian investigation, including visuals and Statista market data, resemble the European Union’s 2024 antitrust decision against Apple. |
| Complaint About Investigation Process | Apple says it was not given an opportunity to present oral evidence, unlike Google during its Android antitrust proceedings. |
| CCI’s Response | The CCI has accused Apple of delaying the investigation by challenging aspects of India’s competition law and prolonging proceedings. |
| Next Hearing | Closed-door hearing scheduled for July 21, 2026. |
| Potential Penalty | Apple could face a fine of up to 10% of its relevant turnover for the previous three financial years if found guilty. |
| Financial Information Submitted | Apple has submitted its India turnover details for FY2022, FY2023, and FY2024. |
| Apple’s India Manufacturing Contribution | Apple says it has exported USD 51 billion worth of iPhones from India over the last five years. |
| India’s Role in Global iPhone Production | According to Counterpoint Research, India is expected t |
