Apple Antitrust Case: CCI Recalls Reports

SUMMARY

The recall came after Apple complained that the CCI had disclosed confidential secrets in the reports to competitors, including Match Group

The disclosures in the reports pertained to revenue generated by Apple's India app store and figures on market share

Apple is in the dock for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the app marketplace space and forcing developers to use its in-app payments system that charge commissions up to 30%

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has reportedly recalled two reports that detailed big tech major Apple’s alleged abuse of its dominant position in the Indian app marketplace segment.

As per Reuters, the move came after Apple complained that the competition watchdog had disclosed “confidential commercial sensitive information” in the reports to competitors, including online dating giant Match Group. Apple had also sought the “recall” and withdrawal of the two reports.

This comes a month after the CCI reportedly circulated two separate reports, prepared by its antitrust probe unit in 2022 and 2024, to concerned parties. The two documents reportedly elaborated Apple flouting competition laws in the app marketplace space to the “detriment of app developers, users and other payment processors”.

The news agency’s report said that the Commission, earlier this month on August 7, directed the Match Group, think tank Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), and other companies to return the two reports.

A source told the publication that the disclosures pertained to revenue generated by Apple’s India app store and figures on market share.

An associate director at ADIF, Prateek Jain, told Reuters that the recall underlined the importance of protecting commercial secrets while ensuring investigations are thorough and impartial. “Indian startups deserve a fair playing field, free from the constraints imposed by dominant global players,” he was quoted as saying.

The recall is expected to have a direct bearing on the antitrust case against Apple and delay the ruling in the case by another two to three months, as per people familiar with the matter.

At the heart of the matter is three-year long CCI probe into allegations of Apple abusing its dominant position in the app marketplace space and forcing developers to use its in-app payments system that charge commissions up to 30%.

Last month, reports surfaced that the watchdog, in an internal report, found the company guilty of flouting competition laws and implementing unfair trade practices.

With this, Apple has become the latest big tech major to come under the radar of CCI. In 2022, CCI imposed a penalty of INR 936.44 Cr on Google for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies.