Apple appears to be headed for a major legal showdown in India. The tech giant is reportedly seeking to block antitrust proceedings by challenging a law that allows penalties to be calculated on a company’s global turnover, according to the country’s competition regulator.
Since 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been investigating Apple over allegations that it abused its dominance in the Indian iOS ecosystem by requiring app developers to use Apple’s in-app purchase (IAP) system — which can carry fees of up to 30%. Critics say this restricts competition from alternative payment methods.
Apple has reportedly argued that it could face a penalty of up to $38 billion after Tinder-owner Match Group and several Indian startups persuaded the regulator that Apple’s IAP fees hurt smaller players and are anti-competitive.
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From the CCI’s standpoint — and that of several legal experts — basing fines on global turnover ensures their deterrent effect, especially in digital markets where India-specific revenue accounts for only a small share of a global tech firm’s earnings.
As of December 2025, no final penalty has been imposed. The Delhi High Court must decide whether the amended penalty law is valid and whether it can be applied in this case. The outcome is expected to have major implications not just for Apple but for how India regulates global tech companies under competition law.
On Monday, a lawyer for the CCI reportedly accused Apple of trying to “stall the proceedings” that date back to 2021. Apple’s counsel urged the court to bar the regulator from taking coercive steps.
In a private submission to the CCI reported by Reuters in October, Match argued that using global turnover to calculate penalties could “act as a significant deterrent against recidivism.”
The case highlights the complex interplay between regulatory authority, digital-market business models, and the interpretation of competition law. It underscores how the practices of global technology firms — such as mandatory in-app payment systems — can face serious scrutiny when they are perceived to restrict competition or disadvantage smaller players.
India’s amended competition law, which allows fines based on global turnover and enables retrospective application, has sparked debate over fairness, proportionality, and the appropriate scope of regulatory power. Apple argues the measures are excessive and legally questionable, while regulators and some experts say global-turnover calculations are essential to ensure meaningful deterrence in fast-growing digital markets.
The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how India handles antitrust enforcement against global tech companies, influencing future disputes at the intersection of innovation, competition, and consumer protection.