Delhi High Court orders Apple to cooperate in App Store probe

The Delhi High Court has ordered Apple to cooperate fully with an ongoing antitrust investigation into its App Store practices in India, while declining the company’s request to suspend the probe. The court also directed the Competition Commission of India (CCI) not to issue a final ruling before the next hearing on July 15, 2026.

The investigation, which originated from a 2021 complaint joined by Match Group and several Indian startups, centers on allegations that Apple has abused its dominant position in the market for iPhone applications. Regulators are examining specific App Store rules, including the mandatory use of Apple’s proprietary in-app payment system, restrictions on third-party payment alternatives, commission fees charged to developers, and control over app distribution on iOS devices. Critics argue these practices stifle competition and disadvantage developers.

A procedural dispute had recently escalated over the CCI’s demand for Apple’s financial information, which the regulator states is necessary to calculate potential penalties. Apple had accused the CCI of overstepping its authority by pushing for this data while the company is separately challenging India’s...