The Competition Commission of India (CCI), an organization monitoring the rivalry between companies in India, has started an investigation against the well-known Apple company. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has said that a preliminary investigation has revealed that American tech company Apple has violated antitrust laws.
What’s the matter?
In fact, the NGO ‘Together We Fight Society’ had complained against the Apple Company to the Competition Commission of India (CCI). In its complaint, the NGO had said that the 30 per cent in-app fee and other restrictions offered by Apple for the expansion of paid digital content are detrimental to competition. This increases the cost to the developers and the cost to the customer. This also makes it difficult to enter the market.
What else is the charge against Apple?
Further, the NGO has further said in its complaint, ‘Third Party App Store is not allowed to be listed on Apple’s Play Store. Apple’s Play Store Guidelines and Agreement prohibit developers from offering services such as third-party App Stores. These restrictions imposed by Apple potentially shut down the App Store market for iOS.’
What did the CCI say in its order?
According to the CCI order, “Prima facie it is a matter of investigation as the prohibition of App Distributors / App Store Developers from entering the market is in violation of anti-competitive laws”. As a result, the technical development of the App Store related services for ios is limited/restricted. This does not put pressure on Apple to improve or modify its App Store and it is a violation of competition rules. In view of these facts, the CCI ordered an investigation against Apple.
Apple denies the allegations
Apple has denied the allegations leveled against it. Apple has said that since its share in the Indian market is only 0-5 per cent, the complaint against it should be dismissed.
CCI refutes Apple’s claims
However, the CCI has said in its order that the claim made by Apple regarding market share is completely false as the complaint is about the restrictions imposed on Apple developers and not about the customer. The CCI has ordered the investigation unit to complete the investigation within 60 days.
Investigation in the European Union
Let us tell you that a similar case against Apple is going on in the European Union. In the year 2020, the European Union launched an investigation against Apple on a similar complaint.