Apple has accused the Competition Commission of India (CCI) of overstepping its judicial authority in a new court filing linked to an ongoing antitrust case in the country. Here are the details.
Time is running out in India antitrust case
For the past few years, Apple has been fighting India’s Competition Commission in an antitrust investigation that accuses the company of abusing its dominant position in the App Store. Apple has always denied the accusations.
The main point of contention between the two sides is how any potential sanction would be calculated.
Under India’s updated competition law from 2024, fines can be based on a company’s global turnover, rather than just local revenue. In Apple’s case, the company says this could amount to a $38 billion tax, which Apple has described as “manifestly arbitrary, unconstitutional, grossly disproportionate and unfair.”
Apple has repeatedly questioned the sanctions framework underpinning that calculation and has asked the Delhi High Court to declare the 2024 law itself illegal.
The back-and-forth of Apple’s requests has made the ICC impatient. As 9to5Mac covered earlier this year:
Now, the CCI has filed its own confidential order, accusing Apple of repeatedly seeking extensions that prevent the timely conclusion of antitrust proceedings and threatening to pursue the case.
Almost four months later, little seems to have changed. He CCI issued an ultimatum a few days ago, demanding the company disclose its financial information. In response, Apple now accuses the ICC of exceeding its judicial authority by requesting such documents.
As reported by Reutersciting a non-public court filing filed in India on April 24:
After the CCI this month gave Apple an ultimatum to submit its financial statements and scheduled a final hearing for May 21, the company urged the Delhi High Court to urgently intervene to stay the matter.
The commission’s “decision to schedule a final hearing represents an escalation in its efforts to usurp the authority of the Honorable Court,” Apple said in the filing, asking the court to hear the matter on May 15.
Reuters says Apple and the ICC were contacted for comment, but neither responded at the time of publication.
read Reuters‘full report, follow this link.
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