Apple is heading toward a decisive stage in its long-running antitrust battle with India’s competition watchdog, after authorities signaled growing impatience with the company’s procedural strategy. The Competition Commission of India has set a final hearing for May 21, is an escalation in a case that has been ongoing since 2021.
At the center of the dispute is Apple’s alleged conduct in the iPhone app ecosystem. Investigators previously concluded that the company abused its dominant position by requiring developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase system, a practice widely challenged by app developers globally. The case in India echoes similar scrutiny Apple faces in other jurisdictions, reinforcing the global nature of regulatory pressure on digital platforms.
Despite the progression of the investigation, Apple has yet to provide key financial data requested by the CCI—information typically used to calculate potential penalties. According to the authority, the company has also not submitted its formal response to the investigative findings since October 2024. Instead, Apple has focused on a parallel legal challenge before the Delhi High Court, where it is contesting the legal framework governing antitrust penalties in India.
This procedural stance has not been well received by the regulator. The CCI has explicitly rejected Apple’s request to pause proceedings until the court rules on the penalty regime, interpreting the move as an attempt to delay the case. By setting a final hearing date, the watchdog is signaling a shift toward resolution—even in the absence of full cooperation from the company.
The stakes are substantial. Apple has argued that if penalties were calculated based on its global turnover, it could face fines of up to $38 billion. Such a scenario underscores why the company is resisting disclosure of financial data and challenging the methodology itself. However, legal experts note that failure to provide the requested information could ultimately weaken Apple’s ability to argue for a lower penalty during the final stage of proceedings.
India represents an increasingly important market for Apple, with iPhone market share rising sharply in recent years. At the same time, the company continues to position itself as a relatively small player compared to the dominance of Android-based devices, a key element of its defense against allegations of market power.
For Apple, the case has evolved from a regulatory inquiry into a high-stakes confrontation over both substance and procedure—one that could set an important precedent for how competition law is applied in fast-growing digital markets.
