Apple faces antitrust complaint in China over app store rules

A group of 55 Chinese iPhone and iPad users has filed a complaint with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, alleging that Apple restricts app distribution and payments to its own platforms and charges high commissions.

The complaint, led by lawyer Wang Qiongfei, claims Apple holds a monopoly over iOS app distribution in China, while allowing alternative payment methods and app stores in other markets under regulatory pressure.

The filing accuses Apple of violating China’s Anti-Monopoly Law by requiring purchases of digital goods to go through Apple’s in-app purchase system, limiting iOS app downloads to the App Store, and imposing commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases.

A previous lawsuit on similar grounds led by Wang was dismissed by a Shanghai court in 2024, though an appeal is pending with China’s Supreme People’s Court.

China has recently intensified antitrust scrutiny of US tech firms, including Qualcomm.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

China’s antitrust fines stay modest despite high-profile scrutiny

SAMR said 2024 abuse-of-dominance fines hit RMB 106.9 million (~USD 15 million) 1, while cartel penalties slid to 12.69 million yuan from 581.67 million in 2023 2, a small tally beside the spotlight on firms such as Nvidia.
Gun-jumping cases drew light penalties, with Maoming Urban Construction Investment Group fined 1.75 million yuan (~USD 0.24 million) in 2024 2, and the revised Anti-Monopoly Law sets a RMB 5 million cap if there is no anticompetitive effect 3. Enforcement leaned toward easing strain on small companies 4.
Apple faces inquiry risk with limited financial exposure as SAMR leans on soft law tools like reminder letters or administrative interviews, which made up 91.2% of 2,615 notifications under the soft supervision system (a non-punitive oversight channel) in 2024 2.

Payment and app distribution firms could gain if Apple opens up in China

If SAMR pushes Apple to allow alternative payments or app stores in China, as complainants say Apple permits in the EU/US, Chinese payment platforms and third-party distributors could tap new iOS transactions. The complaint targets In-App Purchase commissions of up to 30% and the App Store-only download rule.
Compliance vendors for risk controls, identity checks, or transaction monitoring could see more demand. The Internet Regulation Provisions, effective September 2024, require platform operators to manage competition conduct and keep three years of records 3.
Timing is uncertain since courts seldom reverse AML decisions, with only 16 judicial review cases from 2014 to 2025 4. SAMR often sends reminder letters before formal probes 2, so payment firms and app distributors plus iOS developers should watch for early signals.