Apple opposes India’s antitrust law over $38 billion fine
The dispute arises after CCI found Apple limited third-party payment processors for in-app purchases, potentially affecting millions of users on iOS in India.
Apple is challenging India’s new antitrust penalty law, which could expose the company to fines of up to $38 billion. The case at the Delhi High Court challenges the law allowing the CCI to base penalties on global turnover instead of Indian revenue.
The challenge follows CCI findings that Apple blocked third-party payment processors for iOS in-app purchases, where fees can reach 30%.
Apple argues any penalty should be based solely on the revenue of the specific business unit involved, warning that applying global turnover is arbitrary, disproportionate and unconstitutional.
Apple also warns of retrospective enforcement, noting the rules were applied in another case to violations from a decade earlier. The company says it remains smaller than Google’s Android in India, even though its smartphone base has quadrupled in the past five years.
Legal experts say the court may find it difficult to overturn the law, which explicitly permits the CCI to use global turnover for calculating fines. Apple’s plea is scheduled to be heard on 3 December.
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