In a startling development, the tech giant Apple Inc is facing a lawsuit filed by a local developer in China over its acclaimed App Store model. The Chinese judiciary’s assent to hear the case mirrors an ongoing legal battle Apple is enduring domestically involving the popular gaming platform, Fortnite. Interestingly, this isn't the first time a tech conglomerate has come under the scrutiny of the legal eye as the internet giant Google also recently confronted a Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit concerning alleged ad malpractices.

Apple's App Store operating model has long enslaved its software developer community to follow the stringent rules Apple sets forth. The rules necessitate any app listed in the Apple App Store to pay a commission of as much as 30 percent of all sales and upgrades to Apple. These rules are similar to those that have embroiled Apple in an ongoing legal chess match with Epic Games, the manufacturer of Fortnite, where allegations were raised against Apple of promoting monopolistic practices.

Whilst Apple reels under the lawsuit in China, it's not the only tech juggernaut facing antitrust lawsuits. It appears that Google, too, is in the DOJ's crosshairs over alleged malpractices linked to its powerful advertising arm. Like Apple, Google’s business model has been respondent to allegations of anti-competitive behavior, heightening the pervasive issue of potential monopolies within the tech industry.

Both tech giants have a firm grip on their respective markets, and their policies and practices significantly impact their extensive developer and customer bases. It's understandable that regulators worldwide are mounting pressure to ensure fair competition rules are honored.

In the United States, Apple's incredible market power and the leverage it exercises over its App Store has led Epic Games to sue Apple under legal regulations designed to promote fair competition. Amid the scrutiny, Apple made a move last week to marginally reduce fees for developers earning less than $1 million in annual sales from apps and in-app purchases. However, it is still uncertain how these escalating legal proceedings will impact the tech-industry's giants and their conduct concerning future business practices.

The outcome of these antitrust lawsuits could result in landmark rulings with far-reaching effects for both developers and consumers alike. It is clear that how the Department of Justice and judiciary of China respond to these cases will set precedents that will have significant implications for competition and operating rules in the software development and wider tech world.