Apple has escalated its dispute with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), accusing investigators of 'copy-pasting' allegations from rivals without conducting independent analysis. In a June 25, 2026 filing, the Cupertino company argues that the regulator's preliminary findings should be thrown out for lacking merit and due process.
Apple Denies Abusive Conduct on the App Store
The CCI privately concluded in 2024 that Apple engaged in 'abusive conduct' on its App Store by requiring use of its own payment system. Apple denies this, calling itself a 'minuscule player' with under 6% of India's smartphone market. The company warns that forced alterations to its integrated business model could 'create regulatory uncertainty and deter investments in India's digital economy.' This dispute mirrors global regulatory trends, such as OpenAI restricting access in Europe, affecting small businesses.
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Evidence of Copy-Paste from Match, PhonePe, and Paytm Complaints
Apple provided tables showing the CCI investigation team allegedly reproduced filings from opponents including Match, Walmart's PhonePe, and Indian rival Paytm. Apple states, 'The Director General made no effort to independently verify or critically assess these statements, often parroting them verbatim.' Apple also claims the CCI 'blindly replicated' a graphic on global app and game spending from a 2024 EU ruling against Apple, ignoring different Indian market conditions. Similar copying accusations by Google in its own case had little effect on the final ruling.
India's Antitrust Penalty Law Could Cost Apple Up to $38 Billion
The regulator accuses Apple of stalling for over two years by withholding documents and challenging India's antitrust penalty law, which allows fines up to 10% of global turnover. Apple estimates potential exposure at $38 billion and is separately contesting in court whether the law applies to 2022–2024. Only in early June 2026 did Apple cooperate, submitting only local Indian revenue. The case unfolds as India becomes central to Apple's manufacturing, set to produce 26% of iPhones globally in 2026, up from 6% four years ago. For more on Apple's hardware plans, see the Apple Silicon roadmap leak revealing M5 and M6 chips.
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Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/29/apple-says-indias-antitrust-case-is-copy-pasted
