India investigates Apple's payment rules for antitrust violations

The Competition Commission of India is investigating whether Apple's requirement that developers use its own in-app payment system is illegally harmful to competition.

The CCI probe is expected to be complete within the next 60 days and is based on a concern that Apple's payment rules deprive developers of their choice of a payment processing system. The CCI also referenced the commission of up to 30% for app purchases and in-app payments as a potential hindrance to revenue for developers.

Apple did not return a request for comment by deadline.

Apple's App Store payment policies are facing legal, political and regulatory pressure globally. In the U.S., a federal judge in September ruled that Apple must allow developers to use outside payment methods for mobile apps. That ruling followed a lawsuit in which Epic Games argued Apple's in-app payment fees harm competition and should be subject to antitrust law.

While the U.S. judge said Apple must allow other payment methods, the technology company was not found to be a "monopoly," sparing Apple heavier regulation.

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., have introduced a bill that would make it illegal for app stores to require the use of internal payment systems as a condition for inclusion. There have been several state bills that would make similar requirements.

Outside of the U.S., South Korea passed a law similar to the Blumenthal/Blackburn bill in August; and regulators in the U.K. and EU are conducting antitrust investigations into Apple's payment requirements.

Apple has argued the fees are necessary to fund the App Store's technology, and contribute to security and privacy safeguards. Apple has made concessions, such as lowering the fee to 15% for developers that earn less than $1 million in yearly sales. Apple also allows media firms such as Netflix to offer access to external websites for payments, as part of a settlement with regulators in Japan.