The CCI's push for Apple's global turnover is part of its efforts to strengthen a case against the tech giant's app store policies.
Apple has asked an Indian court to stop the country's antitrust watchdog from seeking its global financial records as part of an investigation into its app store policies, while it challenges the underlying law's validity, court papers show.
Apple is locked in a high-stakes legal battle with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), whose investigation accused the company of abusing its position on its app store. Apple denies the allegations. The company is also challenging the validity of India’s new penalty rules, which allow regulators to calculate fines based on a company’s global turnover.
In its filing, Apple argued that complying with the CCI’s request for worldwide financial data at this stage would undermine its legal challenge against the penalty framework. The company has warned that it could face fines of up to $38 billion if global revenue is used as the basis for penalties.
Despite the pending legal challenge, the CCI issued a private order on December 31 requesting Apple’s financial records. Apple has now petitioned the Delhi High Court to direct the watchdog to halt any further action and suspend the investigation until the legal questions over penalty rules are resolved.
The CCI has defended the penalty system as necessary to deter large multinational companies from violating competition laws. Apple and the CCI did not respond to requests for comment.
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on January 27.
Source: Reuters
