Key facts
- Apple claims Indian antitrust investigators "copy-pasted" claims from rivals like Match, PhonePe, and Paytm.
- Apple argues the Competition Commission of India (CCI) failed to conduct an independent investigation.
- The tech giant is seeking to have the CCI's findings of abusive conduct quashed.
- Apple stated it has a less than 6% share of India's smartphone market.
- The CCI previously found Apple engaged in "abusive conduct" regarding its app store and payment system.
- Apple contends that changing its App Store model could disrupt its business and deter investment in India.
Apple has accused Indian antitrust investigators of "copy-pasting" claims from its rivals and failing to conduct an independent investigation into alleged breaches of competition laws. In a submission reviewed by Reuters, the U.S. tech giant argued that the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) findings were based on opponents' submissions rather than its own analysis, and called for the conclusions to be quashed.
The CCI investigators had previously issued a private report in 2024 stating that Apple engaged in "abusive conduct" on its iOS operating system and wrongly mandated the use of its payment system. Apple has denied these allegations, asserting it holds a small market share in India and that any forced changes to its App Store could disrupt its business model and deter investment.
Apple's submission highlighted instances where it claims the CCI investigation team "blindly replicated" information from rivals and even an EU ruling. The company also argued that it was not given a sufficient opportunity to present its case orally during the probe, contrasting this with Google's experience in a similar antitrust case. The CCI has accused Apple of stalling the investigation for over two years.
As Apple diversifies its manufacturing beyond China, India is a key market for iPhone production. The company has exported $51 billion worth of iPhones from India over the past five years and argues that mitigating factors, including its "unblemished record," should be considered if penalties are imposed.