Apple is asking an Indian court to throw out antitrust findings that found the App Store violated competition rules, claiming investigators simply copied complaints from rival companies instead of conducting independent analysis. The company argues the Competition Commission of India lifted claims directly from Match, PhonePe, and Paytm without proper scrutiny.

Apple's filing points to specific instances where it says the CCI adopted submissions wholesale, including replicating a graphic from a 2024 EU ruling despite vastly different market conditions in India. These allegations mirror tactics used by Alphabet during Google's Android antitrust battle with the same regulator, though those arguments ultimately failed to convince the CCI.

At stake is how any potential penalty would be calculated. While the CCI maintains it can base fines on Apple's global turnover, Apple contends penalties should apply only to revenue generated within India. The dispute highlights tensions over how international tech companies navigate India's evolving digital regulations.

Apple describes itself as a "minuscule player" in India's smartphone market and warns that forcing App Store changes could create regulatory uncertainty that deters investment in the country's digital economy. The outcome will signal how seriously Indian authorities take such enforcement actions against major tech platforms.