Apple Asks Indian Court to Block Antitrust Law Allowing $38 Billion Fine
(Thursday November 27, 2025 @05:00AM (BeauHD)
from the not-so-fast dept.)
- Reference: 0180219721
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/11/26/2352256/apple-asks-indian-court-to-block-antitrust-law-allowing-38-billion-fine
- Source link:
Apple is challenging a new Indian antitrust law that would let regulators calculate penalties based on global revenue -- a change that [1]could expose the company to a fine of roughly $38 billion in its dispute with Tinder owner Match. The 2022 antitrust case centers on accusations that Apple abused its power by forcing developers to use its in-app purchase system. MacRumors reports:
> Last year, India passed a law that allows the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to use global turnover when calculating penalties imposed on companies for abusing market dominance. Apple can be fined up to 10 percent, which would result in a penalty of around $38 billion. Apple said that using global turnover would result in a fine that's "manifestly arbitrary, unconstitutional, grossly disproportionate, and unjust."
>
> Apple is asking India's Delhi High Court to declare the law illegal, suggesting that penalties should be based on the Indian revenue of the specific unit that violates antitrust law. [...] Apple said in today's filing that the CCI used the new penalty law on November 10 in an unrelated case, fining a company for a violation that happened 10 years ago. Apple said it had "no choice but to bring this constitutional challenge now" to avoid having retrospective penalties applied against it, too. Match has argued that a high fine based on global turnover would discourage companies from repeating antitrust violations. Apple's plea will be heard on December 3.
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/26/apple-india-antitrust-law-challenge/
> Last year, India passed a law that allows the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to use global turnover when calculating penalties imposed on companies for abusing market dominance. Apple can be fined up to 10 percent, which would result in a penalty of around $38 billion. Apple said that using global turnover would result in a fine that's "manifestly arbitrary, unconstitutional, grossly disproportionate, and unjust."
>
> Apple is asking India's Delhi High Court to declare the law illegal, suggesting that penalties should be based on the Indian revenue of the specific unit that violates antitrust law. [...] Apple said in today's filing that the CCI used the new penalty law on November 10 in an unrelated case, fining a company for a violation that happened 10 years ago. Apple said it had "no choice but to bring this constitutional challenge now" to avoid having retrospective penalties applied against it, too. Match has argued that a high fine based on global turnover would discourage companies from repeating antitrust violations. Apple's plea will be heard on December 3.
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/26/apple-india-antitrust-law-challenge/
Legal precedent (Score:2)
by ZiggyZiggyZig ( 5490070 )
I think some EU laws also fine companies based on their global revenue - for GDPR complaints, for example - so there is legal precedent and I'm not sure how it could be unconstitutional. Multinational companies evade laws and tax by playing around countries one against another, so I would say it's fair game to hit them globally instead of just aiming at the subsidiary acting in the country where misbehavior occurs.
If I slap someone with my left arm (Score:2)
only my left arm should be fined and the penalty shall be calculated based on the money I earn with my left arm only. Apple wants to throw its whole weight around but still be treated like an underdog. Nope. With great power comes great responsibility.