An Indian court has ruled that Apple must cooperate with a government investigation into its App Store practices, rejecting the company’s attempt to stay the case (via Reuters). The Delhi High Court’s decision keeps alive an investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which concluded in 2024 that Apple had abused its dominant position in the iPhone apps market. The CCI wants Apple’s financial data to be used to calculate potential sanctions, but Apple has refused to release it until now. Apple’s argument is largely procedural; it is separately challenging the legality of India’s sanctions framework in court and says the ICC should wait until that challenge is resolved. India’s updated competition law allows fines to be based on a company’s global revenue rather than just local profits, which, given Apple’s size, could lead to huge exposure. The court didn’t give Apple the break it wanted, but it did prevent the ICC from issuing a final decision before July 15, buying the company some time. Apple also managed to get certain documents into the legal file, although the court order does not specify what they are. India is one of the most important growth markets for Apple. Counterpoint Research estimates the company’s iPhone market share at 9%, up from just 4% two years ago. Apple has also ramped up iPhone manufacturing in the country through Foxconn and Tata, reducing its dependence on China. A hostile regulatory environment complicates this ambition. It’s also the latest front in a years-long global battle over App Store rules. Apple faces similar scrutiny in the United States and Europe, where regulators and courts have pushed back on its control over app distribution and in-app payments. Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion on this topic, the discussion thread is located in our political news forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts. Post navigation Apple sued for removing co-viewing app Rave from App Store
