Reuters, NEW DELHI
Apple Inc has accused Indian antitrust investigators of "copy-pasting" its rivals’ claims and failing to properly conduct its own investigation in concluding the US tech giant breached competition laws, calling for the findings to be quashed, regulatory papers reviewed by Reuters showed.The Apple submission on Thursday last week, being reported for the first time, marks the sharpest escalation yet in Apple’s fight with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), where Tinder-owner Match Group Inc and Indian start-ups are among its opponents.In 2024, CCI investigators privately issued a report saying Apple engaged in "abusive conduct" on the apps platform of its iOS operating system, and wrongly mandated the use of its payment system.
A man looks at products at an Apple store in Mumbai yesterday.
Apple has denied the allegations. It said in its submission that it was a "minuscule player" with an under 6 percent share of India’s smartphone market, and the investigation conclusions were built on rivals’ claims rather than on the CCI’s independent analysis.Apple said any "forced alterations to Apple’s carefully designed App Store could disrupt its integrated business model," and argued against any penalties and behavioral remedies that could force it to change its approach.
