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Apple Moves to Halt India Antitrust Case Over Penalty Rules

By  |  December 1, 2025

Apple is working to block an antitrust case in India by challenging a legal provision that allows penalties to be based on a company’s global revenue rather than only its business in the country, according to Reuters. The effort marks a deepening clash between the U.S. technology company and New Delhi’s competition authorities.

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    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) confirmed that Apple recently contested the law, which was amended in 2024 and gives regulators the power to calculate fines using a company’s worldwide turnover. Per Reuters, Apple warned that the rule could enable disproportionately large penalties, even when alleged violations are limited to India.

    Apple’s challenge follows a case brought by Tinder-owner Match and several Indian startups, who argued that the fees charged for in-app payments on the Apple App Store harm smaller developers and amount to anti-competitive behavior. Apple has pushed back against the accusations, saying it plays a far smaller role in India’s smartphone ecosystem than Google’s Android platform.

    The final outcome of the antitrust investigation — including the size of any potential fine — has not yet been determined. However, Apple has said it could face a penalty of up to $38 billion under the global revenue approach, per Reuters.

    Related: Apple Disputes India’s New Antitrust Penalty Rules in Court

    During a court hearing on Monday, the CCI’s lawyer accused Apple of attempting to “stall the proceedings” dating back to 2021, while Apple’s representatives requested that the court prevent the regulator from taking coercive actions as the legal challenge unfolds. Judges at the Delhi High Court have directed the CCI to respond in detail to Apple’s arguments.

    The tension has heightened concerns among multinational companies about regulatory risks in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets. In a previously private submission to the CCI — later reported by Reuters — Match said that a fine scaled to a company’s global turnover could “act as a significant deterrent against recidivism”.

    As the legal battle continues, the case is seen as a key test of India’s strengthened competition rules and their implications for global tech players operating in the country.

    Source: Reuters