Apple Accuses India of 'Copy-pasting' Rivals' Claims in Antitrust Investigation

Apple has accused Indian antitrust investigators of “copy-pasting” claims made by its rivals and failing to carry out an independent inquiry before concluding that the US technology giant breached competition laws, according to regulatory filings reviewed by Reuters.

The June 25 submission — reported for the first time — marks the sharpest escalation yet in Apple’s battle with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), where Tinder-owner Match Group and several Indian start-ups are among its opponents.

In 2024, CCI investigators privately issued a report alleging Apple had engaged in “abusive conduct” on the app platform of its iOS operating system by mandating the use of its payment system. Apple has denied the allegations.

In its submission, Apple said it was a “minuscule player” with less than 6 per cent of India’s smartphone market and argued the investigation’s conclusions were based largely on competitors’ claims rather than the CCI’s own analysis.

The company said any “forced alterations” to its carefully designed App Store could disrupt its integrated business model and opposed any penalties or behavioural remedies that might compel it to alter its practices.

“The imposition of remedies would create regulatory uncertainty and could deter investments in India’s digital economy,” Apple said.

Neither the CCI nor its Director General of Investigations responded to Reuters’ queries. Apple also declined to comment.

Similar arguments from other major technology companies have failed to sway the regulator. In 2023, Google argued in its antitrust case that a CCI order risked hampering its growth, but it was later forced to alter the way it promoted its Android operating system, which dominates India’s smartphone market.

Senior CCI officials are due to hold a closed-door hearing with all parties in the case on July 21.

‘Copy-pasting’ Allegations

In its submission, Apple included comparative tables to argue that the CCI’s investigation team had failed to conduct its own analysis and had instead “copy-pasted” submissions from rivals, including PhonePe and Paytm.

“The DG (Director General) made no effort whatsoever to independently verify or critically assess these statements, often parroting them verbatim,” Apple said.

Match, Paytm and PhonePe did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Apple also claimed the CCI’s report had “blindly replicated” a graphic on global consumer spending on mobile apps and games from a 2024 European Union ruling against the company, despite India’s market conditions being significantly different.

A Reuters review of footnotes in both the EU order and the Indian investigation report found that both cited data from Statista. In 2023, Google had similarly alleged that Indian investigators copied parts of a European ruling — a charge the CCI rejected at the time.

Watchdog Says Apple Delaying Case

Apple is facing antitrust scrutiny worldwide, from Europe to the United States. The Indian case comes at a time when the company is grappling with supply chain concerns, including a data breach at its Indian contract manufacturer Tata Group.

The watchdog has accused Apple of delaying the case for more than two years by failing to respond to the investigation findings and pursuing a parallel legal challenge against India’s antitrust penalty framework, which allows fines of up to 10 per cent of a company’s turnover over the previous three years.

The CCI has not specified which Apple revenues could be considered for any penalty, though filings show Apple has submitted its “relevant turnover” in India for the fiscal years 2022–24, as required for penalty calculations.

Apple also argued that investigators failed to give it “a single opportunity” to record statements or provide oral evidence during the probe.

By contrast, Google was given several opportunities to defend its business model during its Android case, Apple said.

While desirable, the CCI’s investigation team is under no legal obligation to grant an oral hearing if it believes it has conclusive evidence,” said an Indian antitrust lawyer, adding that CCI members will now decide whether Apple should have been given that opportunity.

As Apple diversifies iPhone production beyond China, India has become a crucial manufacturing base. The country is expected to produce 26 per cent of the world’s iPhones in 2026, up from 6 per cent four years ago, according to Counterpoint Research.

Apple said that if the CCI does impose penalties, mitigating factors should be taken into account, including its “unblemished record” and the fact that it has exported iPhones worth $51 billion from India over the past five years.


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