TL;DR
India’s Competition Commission (CCI) has privately warned Apple after more than a year of extension requests in an antitrust probe stemming from a 2022 complaint. The watchdog says it will move forward unilaterally if Apple does not provide required responses, while Apple plans to await a court hearing on January 27.
What happened
The CCI says Apple repeatedly sought extra time in an antitrust inquiry that began with a 2022 complaint from Match and several Indian startups. Investigators in 2024 concluded Apple had engaged in abusive conduct in the iOS apps market and asked the company to submit objections and financial information typically used to assess penalties. According to a confidential CCI order dated December 31 and reported by Reuters, the regulator views Apple’s successive extension requests as undermining procedural discipline and delaying resolution. Apple has challenged India’s penalty rules in court and warned it could face a penalty as large as $38 billion if authorities apply a global-turnover calculation; the company denies the allegations. Apple reportedly asked to pause the administrative case while the court challenge proceeds, a request the CCI rejected. The order gave Apple a final warning that the commission will continue the matter without the company’s input if no response arrives by the stated deadline. Apple intends to hold off until judges hear the related case on January 27.
Why it matters
- The dispute centers on how penalties would be calculated in a major antitrust case—India’s approach could influence future fines.
- If the CCI proceeds without Apple’s responses, the inquiry could reach a decision faster and with less direct input from the company.
- The matter involves prominent international firms and local startups, underscoring tensions over app-store rules and market access in India.
- A ruling on the use of global turnover for penalties could carry significant financial implications for multinational companies operating in India.
Key facts
- The probe traces to a 2022 complaint filed by Match and several Indian startups.
- In 2024, Indian investigators concluded Apple had engaged in abusive conduct in the iOS apps market.
- The CCI requested Apple to file objections and provide financial details in October 2024.
- A confidential CCI order dated December 31 criticized Apple’s repeated extension requests and labeled them obstructive to timely proceedings.
- Apple has challenged India’s penalty rules in court and warned a global-turnover calculation could expose it to fines up to $38 billion.
- Apple sought to pause the administrative case pending the court challenge; the CCI rejected that request.
- The commission warned it will proceed unilaterally if Apple does not respond by the deadline set in the order.
- Apple plans to delay its response until a judicial hearing scheduled for January 27.
What to watch next
- January 27 court hearing on Apple’s challenge to India’s penalty rules — outcome could shape the administrative case.
- Whether Apple submits the requested objections and financial details before the CCI’s deadline or the regulator moves forward without them.
- not confirmed in the source: Whether the CCI will apply global-turnover calculations when setting any final penalty.
Quick glossary
- Competition Commission of India (CCI): India’s statutory authority responsible for enforcing competition law and regulating anti-competitive practices.
- Antitrust investigation: A regulatory probe into practices that may unfairly limit competition, harm consumers, or abuse market dominance.
- Global turnover: A company’s total worldwide revenue; sometimes used as a basis for calculating penalties in competition cases.
- Objections and financial details: Formal responses and monetary information that a regulator may request from a company during penalty assessment.
Reader FAQ
Why did the CCI issue a final warning to Apple?
The CCI said Apple had repeatedly requested extensions and not provided required objections and financial details, which the regulator viewed as delaying the proceedings.
Could Apple face a very large fine?
The source reports Apple has said it fears a fine up to $38 billion if India applies a global-turnover basis for penalties.
Has Apple been found guilty?
Investigators in 2024 concluded Apple had engaged in abusive conduct, but final penalties or a conclusive sanction were not reported.
What happens next in the case?
Apple plans to wait for a court hearing on January 27; the CCI has warned it will proceed unilaterally if it does not receive the company’s response by its deadline.
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Sources
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