A coalition of Chinese mobile application developers has called on the country’s competition authorities to examine Apple’s App Store business practices, intensifying scrutiny of the iPhone maker’s control over software distribution and payments within its ecosystem.
According to Anadolu Agency reporter Anadolu Staff, a group of 48 Chinese iOS developers submitted a complaint to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), alleging that Apple’s App Store policies may violate the country’s anti-monopoly framework. The developers are challenging Apple’s commission structure and restrictions on alternative payment options and app distribution channels.
The complaint centers on Apple’s requirement that developers selling digital goods and services on iOS use the company’s in-app payment system, which can carry commissions of up to 30%. The developers argue that Apple’s rules limit competition and increase costs for businesses operating on the platform.
Anadolu Agency reported that the group is seeking a formal antitrust investigation into whether Apple’s App Store practices constitute an abuse of market dominance under Chinese competition law.
The filing adds to growing regulatory attention worldwide on the market power of major digital platforms. Competition authorities in multiple jurisdictions have examined whether operators of app marketplaces unfairly restrict rivals or impose excessive fees on developers seeking access to mobile users.
Chinese regulators have already signaled interest in Apple’s App Store policies. Reuters reported in February 2025 that SAMR was considering a potential investigation into Apple’s commission rates and restrictions on third-party payment systems and alternative app stores. The report said Chinese officials had held discussions with Apple and app developers regarding concerns that the company’s rules could limit competition.
Apple has long defended its App Store model, arguing that commissions help fund platform security, developer tools, privacy protections, and app review processes. The company maintains that its policies create a trusted environment for consumers and developers.
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The dispute in China mirrors broader global challenges facing Apple. In the European Union, regulators have required the company to make changes to its app marketplace practices under the Digital Markets Act, including permitting alternative app distribution mechanisms and broader payment options. In the United States, Apple has also faced antitrust litigation and regulatory scrutiny related to App Store rules and developer access.
Competition concerns involving mobile app ecosystems have become a major focus for regulators globally. Authorities have increasingly examined whether platform operators that control app distribution can use that position to disadvantage competing services, limit consumer choice, or extract excessive fees from developers.
The Chinese developers’ complaint arrives amid a wider regulatory environment in which Beijing has stepped up enforcement of antitrust laws in the technology sector. Chinese authorities have launched investigations into several large domestic and foreign technology companies in recent years as part of broader efforts to address market concentration and promote competition.
Neither SAMR nor Apple immediately announced any formal enforcement action in connection with the developers’ filing. However, the complaint could increase pressure on regulators to further examine the company’s practices in one of Apple’s most important international markets.
The developers have asked regulators to determine whether Apple’s App Store policies comply with China’s Anti-Monopoly Law and whether changes are necessary to promote competition in mobile software distribution and digital payments. As of publication, Chinese authorities had not publicly indicated whether they would open a formal investigation.
Source: AA
