Antitrust Lawsuit in China Targets Apple Policies on App Distribution and Payments

Core Viewpoint - Apple is facing an antitrust lawsuit in China regarding its app distribution and payment policies, which are alleged to abuse its market dominance [1][2]. Group 1: Antitrust Lawsuit in China - A complaint was filed by a lawyer representing 55 Chinese iPhone and iPad users with the State Administration for Market Regulation, claiming that Apple requires iOS apps to be distributed and payments to be made exclusively on its platform, charging commissions as high as 30% [2]. - The lawyer, Wang Qiongfei, previously filed a similar case against Apple in 2021, which was dismissed in 2024, and is currently appealing to China's Supreme People's Court [3]. Group 2: Global Antitrust Issues - Apple has faced antitrust lawsuits in the European Union and the United States, with accusations of market abuse and unlawful dominance in the smartphone market [3][5]. - In the EU, Apple was fined $580 million in April for violating rules that allow developers to direct users to purchases outside of app stores, and the company is appealing this fine [4]. - The company has expressed concerns that the EU's Digital Markets Act is negatively impacting user experience and may hinder the performance of Apple products in Europe [4].