A group of 55 Chinese iPhone and iPad users has filed a formal antitrust complaint with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), accusing Apple (AAPL.O) of abusing its dominant market position by restricting app distribution and in-app payments to its own platforms.
The complainants, represented by lawyer Wang Qiongfei, argue that Apple’s control over the App Store forces consumers to purchase digital goods exclusively through its In-App Purchase (IAP) system, while charging commissions of up to 30%. They also contend that the company’s refusal to allow alternative payment systems and app stores in China constitutes monopolistic behavior under the nation’s Anti-Monopoly Law.
Wang said that Apple’s more flexible approach in the U.S. and EU, where regulators have pressured it to open its ecosystem, highlights the company’s unequal treatment of Chinese consumers.
Apple has yet to comment on the case.
This is the second complaint Wang has brought against Apple. His 2021 civil lawsuit was dismissed by a Shanghai court last year, but an appeal remains pending before the Supreme People’s Court. Wang expects the new administrative route to proceed faster than the earlier court process.
The move adds to Beijing’s broader scrutiny of U.S. technology firms, as China also probes Qualcomm over its acquisition of Autotalks, reflecting escalating tech tensions between the two countries.
