Overview
- A complaint submitted to the State Administration for Market Regulation alleges Apple forces use of its In‑App Purchase system, confines iOS app downloads to the App Store, and charges commissions up to 30%.
- Apple has not commented on the filing, and the regulator has not publicly announced a formal investigation.
- The complainants turned to the administrative route after a 2021 civil case was dismissed by a Shanghai court, with that ruling now on appeal before China’s Supreme People’s Court after December arguments.
- The filing contrasts Apple’s policies in China with changes adopted under pressure in the European Union and the United States, citing alternative payments and third‑party distribution allowed abroad.
- The move lands as Chinese authorities scrutinize U.S. tech firms, with analysts estimating Apple collected roughly $6.44 billion in App Store commissions from Chinese users in 2024, a revenue stream that could be affected by any remedies.