Apple Asks Indian Court to Block Antitrust Law Allowing $38 Billion Fine

Apple is fighting an antitrust penalty law in India that could require it to pay massive fines in its ongoing antitrust dispute with Tinder owner Match, reports Reuters.

apple india
Last year, India passed a law that allows the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to use global turnover when calculating penalties imposed on companies for abusing market dominance. Apple can be fined up to 10 percent, which would result in a penalty of around $38 billion. Apple said that using global turnover would result in a fine that's "manifestly arbitrary, unconstitutional, grossly disproportionate, and unjust."

Apple is asking India's Delhi High Court to declare the law illegal, suggesting that penalties should be based on the Indian revenue of the specific unit that violates antitrust law.

Apple has been fighting an antitrust lawsuit in India since 2022 against dating app Match and several Indian startups. The CCI released a pair of reports last year suggesting that Apple had engaged in "abusive conduct and practices" because it required developers to use its in-app purchase system. The CCI was forced to recall its investigative reports because they contained confidential information about Apple's business practices, resulting in a delay of several months. No final decision has been made, and a penalty has yet to be levied against Apple. Apple maintains that it has not done anything wrong, and argues that it has a very small share of the smartphone market in India because Android devices are much more popular.

Apple said in today's filing that the CCI used the new penalty law on November 10 in an unrelated case, fining a company for a violation that happened 10 years ago. Apple said it had "no choice but to bring this constitutional challenge now" to avoid having retrospective penalties applied against it, too.

Match has argued that a high fine based on global turnover would discourage companies from repeating antitrust violations. Apple's plea will be heard on December 3.

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Top Rated Comments

SFjohn Avatar
1 hour ago at 02:00 pm
It seems every country is looking to fine Apple 10% of its worldwide income, they pass laws tailored to go after Apple. Find them infringing the law they wrote, and voila: a golden ticket for instant multi billionaire income. ?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
1 hour ago at 02:02 pm
Maybe Tim Cook should try this first?



Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zc456 Avatar
1 hour ago at 02:02 pm
Apple: “I’m just a poor helpless person.” :rolleyes:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unregistered 4U Avatar
42 minutes ago at 02:34 pm

When everyone is on said ecosystem, telling someone not to develop for it is hardly an option.
In India, hardly anyone is on said ecosystem. 91% are on Android. They could simply implore their citizens to buy Android devices and tell everyone using Apple devices you’re on your own and that would solve the problem.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lampekap Avatar
55 minutes ago at 02:20 pm
It's Apple's ecosystem. If you don't like it as developer, don't develop for it. Why do "all these alternavive app store builders" even get government protection? If I want to open a physical store, does the government fine the existing chains?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zc456 Avatar
46 minutes ago at 02:29 pm

It's Apple's ecosystem. If you don't like it as developer, don't develop for it.
When everyone is on said ecosystem, telling someone not to develop for it is hardly an option.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)