Overview
- India’s Competition Commission, in an April 8 order reviewed by Reuters, set a May 21 final hearing and moved to fast‑track a penalties decision in its case against Apple.
- Apple has not filed its financials or formal views since October 2024, and the CCI granted a brief, two‑week window to submit audited statements for 2022–2024 that are used to compute fines.
- Apple is contesting India’s penalty framework in the Delhi High Court and asked the CCI to pause its process, a request the regulator rejected while saying the company is trying to stall the case.
- Penalties in India can be tied to global revenue, and Apple has warned the fine could reach up to $38 billion, with one antitrust lawyer noting that failing to file audited data could weaken Apple’s arguments on the amount.
- CCI investigators concluded in 2024 that Apple abused its position by forcing developers to use its in‑app purchase system, a case launched in 2021 that now carries greater stakes as iPhone’s share in India has risen to about 9% from 4% two years earlier.