Apple has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from demanding its global financial records in an ongoing antitrust probe. The company argues that penalties based on worldwide turnover are unfair for conduct limited to India, warning of potential fines up to $38 billion.
Apple Inc. has escalated its legal battle with India’s antitrust regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), by filing a petition in the Delhi High Court. The dispute centers on the regulator’s demand for Apple’s global financial data as part of its investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the App Store ecosystem.
Key Highlights:
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Legal Challenge: Apple contests the validity of a 2024 amendment to India’s competition law that allows penalties to be calculated on global turnover rather than India-specific revenue.
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Penalty Risk: The company fears fines of up to ₹3.48 lakh crore ($38 billion) if global earnings are considered.
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Apple’s Argument: Conduct restricted to the Indian market should not attract penalties based on worldwide operations.
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CCI Probe: The regulator accuses Apple of abusing its dominant position in the iOS app ecosystem. Apple denies the allegations.
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Court Proceedings: Apple has requested the High Court to halt the investigation until the validity of the penalty rules is decided.
This case underscores the growing tension between global tech giants and Indian regulators, with implications for how competition law is enforced in the digital economy.
Sources: Reuters, The Hindu BusinessLine, The Indian Express