Chinese developers seek antitrust probe into Apple App Store fees

A coalition of 48 Chinese app developers has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with Beijing's market regulator, accusing the US technology giant of abusing its dominant market position through excessive App Store fees, according to the South China Morning Post. The group submitted an open letter urging authorities to investigate commission structures and penalize the company for charges they described as excessive.

Commission structure concerns

The developers said in an open letter published Monday on the WeChat blog of signatory Tian Junwei that Apple failed to fulfill commitments to offer the lowest commission rates in China despite generating significant revenue from the country's large developer base. They argued that Apple's exclusive control over iOS app distribution allows it to impose "unfair and excessively high" costs, effectively limiting competition and squeezing local creators.

Global regulatory scrutiny

Apple's App Store typically charges commissions of up to 30 percent on digital purchases, though reduced rates for small businesses apply in certain markets. The company faces mounting regulatory pressure worldwide as authorities across the European Union, the United States and Asia examine whether its policies unfairly restrict competition.

The complaint was published Monday on the WeChat blog of developer Tian Junwei, according to the daily. Neither Apple nor China's market regulator immediately commented on the filing when reached by the outlet.