Apple is facing antitrust challenges around the world and Match’s July filing adds two other cases in India
Apple is facing antitrust challenges around the world and Match’s July filing adds two other cases in India
Tinder-owner Match Group has filed an antitrust case against Apple with the competition regulator in India, alleging “monopolistic conduct” that forced developers to pay high commissions for in-app purchases. does, legal filings seen by Reuters show.
(Sign up for today’s cache, our technology newsletter, for insights on emerging topics at the intersection of technology, business and policy. Click Here To subscribe for free.)
Apple is facing antitrust challenges around the world and Match’s July filing links two other cases in India, though Match is the first foreign company to file such a challenge against the iPhone maker in the country.
Apple and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) did not respond to questions from Reuters, while a Match spokesperson declined to comment on its filing.
In a previously unreported India filing, Match argues that Apple’s conduct restricts innovation and app developers who provide digital services by enforcing the use of its proprietary in-app purchase system and “excessive” 30% commissions. .
A similar dispute in the Netherlands resulted in a 50 million euro fine for Apple and an agreement to allow different payment methods in Dutch dating applications.
The US giant has long mandated use of its in-app payment system, which charges commissions that some developers like Match have argued globally are too high.
Match argued in its India filing that users in other countries often preferred to use payment methods that Apple does not allow, and that a state-backed online transfer system was preferred in India.
“Apple is therefore leveraging its dominant position in the iOS App Store market to promote the exclusive use of its own payment solutions,” Mark Buss, head of global government relations for Match, said in the filing.
In India, the CCI launched an investigation into allegations by a local non-profit group in December, alleging that Apple’s in-app purchase system hurts competition by increasing costs for app developers and customers, while increasing costs for the market. Also acts as a barrier to entry.
The watchdog ordered the investigation after Apple denied any wrongdoing, saying it is not a major player in India, where it has a “insignificant” 0-5% market share, arguing that it is Google. of Android which commanded a 90-100% stake.
According to three sources with knowledge of the proceedings, the investigation will now cover each of the three separate cases filed against Apple.
Match’s Tinder is one of India’s most popular dating apps, and the top five dating apps accounted for nearly 51% of consumer spend during the second quarter of this year, shows data from Sensor Tower.
In recent years, Apple has eased some restrictions for developers globally, such as allowing them to use communications — such as email — to share information about payment options outside of its iOS apps and allow smaller developers Reducing commission for up to 15%.
“Such commission rates do not apply to apps from Match’s portfolio brands,” said Match’s filing.
Apple says that 87 percent of its apps on its App Store in India are such that they do not pay commission at all.
Match also complained that Apple treats ride-hailing apps such as Uber and SoftBank-backed Ola in India as providers of “material goods/services” that allow them to offer alternative payment solutions, even though Only they “similar matchmaking function” like a dating app.
Match said, “Both the dating and ridesharing app have the same basic purpose i.e. to match two people online to meet in the real world … Apple has arbitrarily declared that the two are separate.”