Apple(US:AAPL) Pandaily·2025-10-23 03:54Core Viewpoint - A group of 55 Chinese consumers has filed a complaint against Apple Inc. for alleged abuse of its dominant market position in China, calling for regulatory investigation and corrective measures [1] Group 1: Allegations Against Apple - The complaint accuses Apple of practices such as forced transactions, product tying, anti-steering clauses, and charging excessively high commissions [1][2] - Complainants claim that Apple mandates the exclusive use of the App Store for iOS app downloads and its in-app purchase (IAP) system, imposing commissions of up to 30% [2] - The complaint argues that these practices infringe on consumer rights and constitute restricted trade and unfair pricing [2] Group 2: Comparison with Other Markets - The complaint highlights that Apple enforces stricter policies in China compared to more relaxed rules in the U.S. and EU [3] - In the U.S., a federal court has mandated that Apple allow third-party payment options, while in the EU, Apple reduced commissions to 10-12% after a €500 million fine [4] - Chinese users remain limited to Apple's IAP system, facing a 30% commission, while anti-steering clauses are still in effect [4] Group 3: Financial Impact - Chinese users are estimated to have paid $6.44 billion in "Apple taxes" in 2024, representing about 10% of Apple's revenue in China, compared to 8.8% in the U.S. and 4.6% in Europe [5] - Projections indicate that if lower commission rates continue abroad, China's "Apple tax" payments could reach $8.1 billion by 2026, making it Apple's highest-burden market [5] Group 4: Demands from Complainants - The complainants are urging regulators to open a formal investigation and have outlined three main demands: 1. Open third-party payment channels to Chinese users and waive all related commissions 2. Allow third-party app stores and web-based sideloading 3. Lower IAP commission rates to no higher than Apple's lowest rate in other global markets [6]