A group of 48 Chinese app developers has filed an antitrust complaint against Apple, accusing the US technology giant of abusing its market dominance through what they describe as excessive App Store commission fees, adding fresh regulatory pressure on one of the company's most profitable businesses.
The complaint was submitted to China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), with developers urging authorities to investigate Apple's App Store practices and impose penalties if violations are found.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the developers alleged in an open letter that Apple failed to honor a commitment to offer the lowest commission rates in the Chinese market, despite benefiting from one of the world's largest ecosystems of mobile app creators and consumers.
The group argued that Apple's control over app distribution on iPhones and other iOS devices leaves developers with little choice but to accept its commission structure, which can reach as high as 30% on digital purchases and subscriptions.
The complaint described the fees as "unfair and excessively high" and claimed they have placed growing financial pressure on smaller developers, limiting innovation and reducing competitiveness in China's digital economy.
The letter was published Monday on the WeChat blog of developer Tian Junwei, one of the signatories to the complaint.
The move comes as regulators around the world intensify scrutiny of Apple's App Store policies. Authorities in the European Union have taken action against restrictions imposed on app developers, while US regulators have also challenged aspects of Apple's control over digital payments and app distribution.
China has increasingly strengthened antitrust oversight of major technology companies in recent years, targeting both domestic and foreign firms over concerns related to market dominance and competition.
The latest complaint could open a new front for Apple in one of its most important markets at a time when the company is already facing slowing iPhone sales, growing competition from Chinese smartphone makers and heightened regulatory scrutiny globally.
Neither Apple nor China's market regulator immediately commented on the complaint, according to SCMP.
If accepted for formal review, the case could become one of the most significant antitrust challenges faced by Apple's App Store business in China, a market that remains central to the company's long-term growth strategy.
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