Overview
- A group of 48 Chinese iOS developers filed a joint complaint with the State Administration for Market Regulation saying Apple has not fully implemented its March pledge to give China the lowest App Store fees.
- The developers acknowledge Apple lowered App Store in‑app purchase commissions but say the company has not opened third‑party app distribution, in‑app third‑party payments, or external link payment channels in China.
- They argue that having only Apple’s channels available keeps developers’ effective, comprehensive fees higher than overseas peers despite lower published IAP rates.
- The complaint asks SAMR to investigate alleged anti‑competitive practices such as tying, differential treatment, and unfair pricing and to require Apple to open alternative distribution and payment options.
- The joint letter and a public developer statement spread widely on WeChat, raising public scrutiny and creating pressure on regulators to respond and on Apple to adopt an automatic alignment mechanism for future overseas changes.