Chinese consumers file antitrust complaint accusing Apple of monopolizing app market
A group of 55 Chinese iPhone and iPad users has filed an antitrust complaint with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) against Apple (AAPL.O), alleging the company is abusing its market dominance through restrictive App Store practices and excessive commissions.
The complaint, led by lawyer Wang Qiongfei, accuses Apple of monopolizing iOS app distribution in China by forcing developers and consumers to use its proprietary In-App Purchase (IAP) system and charging up to 30% commissions on digital transactions.
The filing claims Apple’s restrictions on alternative app stores and payment systems violate China’s Anti-Monopoly Law, especially as the company has allowed more flexibility in the United States and European Union following regulatory pressure.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This is Wang’s second legal challenge against the tech giant. A previous lawsuit filed in 2021 was dismissed by a Shanghai court last year. The lawyer has appealed that ruling to the Supreme People’s Court, which heard arguments in December but has yet to issue a decision.
Wang said he expects the new administrative complaint to move more swiftly through regulators than the prior civil case.
The filing comes amid rising U.S.–China trade and tech tensions, with Beijing increasing scrutiny of American companies. Earlier this year, China launched antitrust probes into other U.S. tech firms, including Qualcomm, over its acquisition of Israeli company Autotalks.