Apple accuses Indian regulators of 'copy-pasting' antitrust investigation claims

Apple has raised concerns about the integrity of the Indian antitrust investigation, arguing that officials are relying too heavily on claims made by competitors rather than conducting thorough, independent evaluations. According to documents reviewed by Reuters, the tech powerhouse accused investigators of merely "copy-pasting" the allegations of rival companies, asserting that the Director General did not adequately verify these statements and often repeated them verbatim. To support its claims, Apple provided comparison tables illustrating notable similarities between the regulator's findings and complaints lodged by competitors like Match Group, PhonePe—which is supported by Walmart—and Paytm. The company pointed out that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) investigation appeared to have "blindly replicated" a chart from a previous European Union antitrust inquiry that had ruled against Apple. This chart, which highlighted global consumer spending on mobile applications and games, was criticized for not being tailored to the specific context of the Indian market. Apple emphasized that the Indian market features distinct consumer behaviors, competitive landscapes, pricing structures, and overall market conditions, arguing that the unadapted chart was inappropriate and ineffective. In 2024, allegations surfaced suggesting that Apple misused its market power through its App Store by compelling developers to utilize its proprietary in-app payment system, thus limiting alternative payment methods. Despite these claims, Apple contended that it has not breached any competition laws in India, noting that it holds a mere 6% share of the country's smartphone market. The company expressed concern that the investigation relied heavily on competitor grievances, lacking any independent analysis. Moreover, Apple warned that mandated changes to the App Store could disrupt its meticulously integrated ecosystem, which harmonizes hardware, software, security, and payment systems. The company cautioned that, "forced alterations to Apple's carefully designed App Store could disrupt its integrated business model," and added that the introduction of regulatory remedies could create uncertainty and potentially hinder investments in India's burgeoning digital economy.