Apple’s legal fight with India’s Competition Commission of India is moving closer to a key moment, with a court hearing scheduled for January 27. At the center of the dispute is how potential penalties should be calculated in a long-running App Store antitrust case.
Last week, Reuters reported that the CCI issued a final warning to Apple over delays in the investigation. The warning raised the possibility of a fine that could reach $38 billion. That figure matters because it relies on Apple’s global turnover, a method allowed under India’s Competition Amendment Act passed in 2023.
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Apple argues that regulators should not base penalties on worldwide revenue for conduct tied only to the Indian App Store. While rejecting claims that it stalled the probe, Apple asked for the case to pause until courts decide how fines should be calculated.
The CCI disagreed. It said repeated deadline extensions hurt procedural discipline and warned it could proceed if Apple failed to cooperate.
Apple Moves to Block Document Request
According to Reuters, Apple filed a motion on January 15 asking the Delhi High Court to stop the CCI from obtaining its financial records until the fine calculation issue is settled. Apple said being forced to comply now would “defeat its main legal challenge” to India’s penalty rules.
With the January 27 hearing approaching, regulators are unlikely to obtain the documents before the court weighs in. Apple and the CCI declined to comment.
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