Apple has moved against a new Indian rule that changes how antitrust penalties are calculated. Instead of using only revenue earned inside India, regulators can now base fines on a company’s global turnover. As a result, the potential penalty in Apple’s iOS app market case rises sharply. The company calls this method unfair and excessive, so it has asked the Delhi High Court to strike it down.
At the same time, the legal fight ties directly to a long-running probe into Apple’s control over the iOS app ecosystem. Complaints from Match Group and several local startups triggered this scrutiny. The Competition Commission of India later said Apple misused its market position, although it has not yet issued a final order or imposed any fine.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
Apple is pushing back
According to Reuters, Apple argues that using global turnover fails to reflect how much business it actually does in India. Therefore, it claims the rule crosses legal limits and creates a punishment that far outweighs any alleged harm. The company calculates that a 10 percent penalty based on global revenue could amount to around $38 billion, which it considers unreasonable.
However, others view the rule differently. Still citing Reuters, legal expert Gautam Shahi explains that the updated law clearly allows the regulator to consider global turnover. He adds that convincing the court to block a defined legislative policy will not be easy. Meanwhile, Match Group supports the tougher approach, saying such penalties help prevent repeat violations.
Now, the court will hear Apple’s plea next week. Your focus should stay on what this means. If the rule stands, it sets a strong signal for how India plans to police big tech firms. If it falls, enforcement could soften. Either way, the outcome will shape how tech companies respond to Indian antitrust pressure.
Discussion