Apple Slams CCI in Antitrust Battle: "Copy-Pasting" Rivals’ Claims in India Investigation

Apple Slams CCI in Antitrust Battle: "Copy-Pasting" Rivals’ Claims in India Investigation​

Apple has severely escalated its fight with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), accusing Indian antitrust investigators of merely "copy-pasting" claims made by competitors rather than conducting an independent analysis. The technology giant called for all existing findings against it to be quashed, arguing that the conclusions wrongly mandated the use of Apple’s payment system on the iOS operating system.

The submission, dated June 25 and reported for the first time, marks the sharpest confrontation yet in the dispute, which includes opponents such as Match and several Indian startups. Apple vehemently denied the allegations, stating its market position is that of a "minuscule player" with less than 6% share of India's smartphone market.

Allegations of Copy-Pasting and Lack of Independent Scrutiny​

Apple detailed in tables provided to Reuters how the CCI investigation team allegedly failed to conduct its own due diligence. The company argued that the Director General (DG) did not attempt to independently verify or critically assess statements, instead parroting them verbatim from opponents like Match, PhonePe, and Paytm.

The submission also highlighted that the CCI’s investigation reports "blindly replicated" a graphic on worldwide consumer spending for mobile apps and games. This alleged replication was traced back to an EU ruling against Apple in 2024, despite India possessing distinct market conditions. A review of both the EU order and the Indian investigation report showed both referenced data from Statista, an online research website.

Apple's Defense Against Penalties and Regulatory Uncertainty​

The company contended that any "forced alterations to Apple’s carefully designed App Store" could disrupt its integrated business model. Furthermore, Apple argued against behavioral remedies and penalties, adding that such interventions would create regulatory uncertainty detrimental to investments in India's digital economy.

Apple noted that the watchdog has accused it of stalling the case for over two years by pursuing a parallel challenge to India's antitrust penalty law. This law permits potential fines up to 10% of company turnover over the past three years, though the CCI has not specified which revenues would be considered in this matter.

Market Stakes and Upcoming Hearing with CCI Officials​

The Indian case is progressing amid global antitrust challenges for Apple. The company is diversifying iPhone manufacturing beyond China, making India a critical market, projected to account for 26% of the world's iPhones by 2026, up from 6% four years ago per Counterpoint Research.

Apple submissions confirmed that it provided the "relevant turnover" data in India for fiscal years 2022-24 as required for penalty calculations. The company further argued that officials failed to give it a single opportunity to record its statements or provide oral evidence during the probe, contrasting this with opportunities given to competitors like Google during their earlier antitrust case in India (2023).

A Gautam Shahi, an antitrust lawyer at Dua Associates, noted that while giving an oral hearing would be desirable, the CCI has no legal obligation to proceed if it possesses conclusive evidence. Senior officials from the CCI are scheduled to hold a closed-door hearing with all parties on July 21 to address these matters.