In its October 13 submission to the CCI, Match said that “Apple’s policies adversely affect the return on capital and revenue streams of Match’s portfolio brands.”
Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, has called on Competition Commission (CCI) to impose a significant fine on Apple for what it describes as anti-competitive conduct in the App Store ecosystem. The company argued that Apple’s commission of up to 30 per cent on in-app purchases is restricting its growth and profitability in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing dating app markets.
In its October 13 submission to the CCI, Match said that “Apple’s policies adversely affect the return on capital and revenue streams of Match’s portfolio brands.” It further argued that “in the long term, the constraints and excessive fee imposed by Apple will stifle the growth and scalability of Match’s portfolio brands.” According to advisory firm MarketNtel, the dating app market in India is projected to reach USD 1.42 billion by 2030.
Match has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Apple since 2022. Last year, CCI investigators concluded that Apple had engaged in “abusive conduct” in the iOS app market. The probe found that Apple prevented third-party payment processors from providing services for in-app purchases, thereby forcing developers to use Apple’s payment system, which attracts a fee of up to 30 per cent.
Apple has rejected these claims and said that it is a relatively small player in India, where most smartphones operate on Google’s Android system. According to Counterpoint Research, iOS powers only about 4.5 per cent of the 735 million smartphones in India as of mid-2025, though Apple’s user base in the country has grown fourfold in the past five years.
Match’s submission urged the CCI to impose a penalty based on Apple’s global turnover rather than its Indian revenue, arguing that this approach could “act as a significant deterrent against recidivism.” The CCI has the authority to fine Apple up to 10 per cent of its global average turnover for the last three financial years, which could amount to billions of dollars.
The company also alleged that Apple discriminates between apps by applying different commission rates. Match pointed out that Uber’s ride-hailing app is classified by Apple as providing “physical goods” and therefore pays lower commissions, while Tinder is treated as offering “digital services” and is subject to higher fees.
“Tinder and Uber both offer matchmaking services in essence,”
Match said in its filing, calling the distinction arbitrary and unfair.
Source: BW Legal
