Apple Fighting Huge $38 Billion Fine in India: Company Says It's Unfair and Over the Top


Apple Fighting Huge $38 Billion Fine in India: Company Says It's Unfair and Over the Top

Apple is in court in India trying to avoid a massive $38 billion fine. The iPhone maker says the penalty is way too harsh and unfair for problems that only happened in India.

Apple filed a 545-page court document on November 25, right before an important hearing. Here's what's going on: India's competition watchdog (called the CCI) started investigating Apple back in 2021. Companies like Match Group, which owns Tinder, complained that Apple was bullying them. They said Apple charges too much for in-app payments and won't let them use other payment options. Apple says it did nothing wrong and points out it only has a small piece of India's phone market – most people there use Android phones.

The big problem is a law change India made in 2024. Before, companies could only be fined based on money they made in India. Now, India can fine companies based on all the money they make worldwide. For Apple, which sells iPhones, services like Apple Music, and other gadgets globally, that could mean a $38 billion fine – even though the issue is just about India.

Apple thinks this is completely unfair. They give this example: Imagine a small shop in India that sells both toys and pencils. If they break the rules selling toys worth 100 rupees, should they be fined based on their entire pencil business worth 20,000 rupees? Apple says "absolutely not." They're arguing the law breaks India's constitution, which promises equal treatment and fairness.

Apple isn't waiting around to see what happens. They want the court to throw out the new law, or at least only fine them based on Indian sales. The hearing is December 3. Legal experts say it'll be hard for Apple to win – the government wrote the law specifically to punish big companies harder.

Meanwhile, Match Group likes the tough approach, saying it helps smaller companies compete. India is important to Apple – they're making more products there and exported $12.8 billion worth of goods last year. If India wins, it could encourage local businesses but might scare away foreign companies.

Bottom line: Will Apple escape the fine, or will India show it can stand up to tech giants? The court's decision could change how countries regulate big tech companies.

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