The U.S. tech giant Apple is currently fighting a major legal battle in India. The company accuses the Competition Commission of India of stepping out of line by demanding its financial records for an ongoing antitrust investigation into the iPhone app market. It claims the local regulatory body is trying to bypass judicial authority, as it already challenged the foreign penalty calculation law in court.
The antitrust watchdog schedules a final hearing to force compliance
The local competition commission started looking into the app store rules in 2021. Investigators concluded that the company abused its market position by forcing developers to use a specific purchase system. To figure out the exact penalty, which could reach $38B, the agency gave an ultimatum to hand over financial data. The commission also scheduled a final hearing for May 21 to settle the matter.
The brand refused to provide the requested numbers, stating that the watchdog must wait. The tech firm argues that the penalty framework itself is currently under legal review by the Delhi High Court. Submitting the requested financial information right now would ignore that ongoing judicial process.
The company asks a higher court to pause the proceedings
In a recent court filing, the tech giant requested urgent intervention to put the antitrust case on hold. The brand warned that the commission is escalating the situation and attempting to usurp the authority of the high court. It wants the local judges to hear the dispute on May 15, right before the scheduled regulatory meeting.
The manufacturer also continues to defend its market practices in the region. It points out that it holds only a nine percent share of the local smartphone market. Because Google Android dominates the space, the company argues it is too small to be considered a monopoly in the country.
