Overview
- A group of 48 China-based iOS developers filed a formal complaint and open letter to the State Administration for Market Regulation on Tuesday asking the regulator to investigate and penalize Apple for what they call “unfair and excessively high” App Store fees.
- Developers say Apple broke a promise to offer China its lowest commission and they cite the company’s March cut from 30% to 25% and a reduction to 12% for some renewals as insufficient.
- The group points to recent policy shifts in other markets—Brazil’s new fee bands and permission for third-party marketplaces and the EU’s Digital Markets Act changes—as proof Apple can offer lower rates or allow alternative stores.
- At the time of reporting neither Apple nor SAMR had publicly commented on the filing, and the complaint does not guarantee SAMR will open a formal investigation.
- The action continues a near-decade legal campaign in China over App Store rules and comes as Apple faces global enforcement including a roughly €500 million EU fine, a dynamic that could lead to fines, mandated policy changes, or widened access to alternative payment and distribution options for Chinese developers.