A Shanghai court will hear a new antitrust case against Apple next week amid ongoing legal disputes over the company’s App Store practices.
Apple is set to face another antitrust challenge before the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court next week, while China's highest court has yet to rule on an appeal of a landmark judgment by the lower court affirming the US tech giant’s dominance in China.
The Shanghai court is scheduled to hold a three-day hearing beginning June 8 in a lawsuit brought by individual plaintiff Tian Ye alleging abuse of market dominance, according to hearing information recently published by the Shanghai High People's Court.
The case comes as appeals by both Apple and a consumer plaintiff in a separate landmark lawsuit involving the company's App Store practices remain pending before the top court, it is understood.
In May 2024, the Shanghai IP Court ruled that Apple holds a dominant position in the market for the application-transaction platform for smart devices under the iOS operating system in mainland China, but found that the company had not abused that position.
The plaintiff appealed the ruling, arguing that Apple abused its market power through practices including its App Store commission and restrictions on payment options. Apple separately challenged the court's finding that it holds a dominant market position.
Court records show that the Tian lawsuit was accepted in 2025. The case comes amid broader scrutiny of Apple's App Store business model in China.
In March, Apple announced reductions to App Store commission rates following discussions with Chinese regulators.
The company lowered its commission rate for standard in-app purchases and paid apps to 25 percent from 30 percent, while rates for developers participating in its Small Business Program and Mini Apps Partner Program fell to 12 percent from 15 percent .
The move was widely viewed as a response to mounting pressure from regulators, developers and consumers over Apple's App Store practices.
Shi Jianzhong, a State Council antitrust adviser and law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, called the cut — apparently a “remedial measure” addressing regulatory pressures — a “major shift,” but said Apple should allow more payment choices, rather than keeping users "forcibly bound" to its in-app purchase system.
Source: MLex
