In the News: Apple Antitrust Dispute; Shareholder Returns Rules; and Dwindling Foreign Employees in China

Chinese developer sues Apple for removing its app from the App Store; CSRC requires increased shareholder returns to boost stock prices; and Foreigners are choosing to work remotely instead of moving to China

Credit: Mark Roger Bailey/Adobe Stock


Apple Sued for Removing Chinese App from App Store


U.S. multinational corporation Apple Inc. is engaged in a legal dispute with the Chinese developer of the Bodyreader app, which was removed from the iPhone App Store in 2020, Bloomberg reports. This is the first antitrust case in which Apple has been sued by a Chinese app developer.

Beijing Bodyreader Technology Ltd. has filed the lawsuit in Beijing Intellectual Property Court, seeking damages of RMB 3 million ($420,000), an apology, and a declaration that Apple has engaged in unfair monopolistic behavior. It accuses Apple of "unfairly" removing its children's posture correction app based on “suspicion of activity that might interfere with Apple’s software and services." The complaint also notes the App Store’s controversial 30% commission for in-app purchases, and Apple’s excessive control over the ecosystem. Bodyreader requested that access should be open to third-party app stores and alternative payment links within apps should be authorized. These issues are similar to those raised in Epic Games’ case against Apple regarding the removal of the video game Fortnite from the App Store.

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