The European Commission upholds Spotify's anti-trust complaint against Apple
The music-subscription service Spotify had lodged official complaints with bodies such as the EC concerning Apple and its business practices back in 2019. It mainly concerned the Cupertino giant's 30% levy on the revenue made by all developers wishing to sell apps on its App Store.
The EC has just informed Apple that it might be on the losing end of the resultant anti-trust investigation. The Commission's executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager has noted that "...Apple is in breach of EU competition law". The authority has also found that the OEM "...charges high commission fees on rivals in the App store & forbids them to inform of alternative subscription options".
Therefore, consumers accessing services like Spotify on devices such as iPhones and iPads through the app store might have been overpaying for their subscriptions, according to the Commission, at least. On the other hand, Spotify has recently increased its rates in a way that might mean European customers might get a better deal via Apple's market going forward.
Nevertheless, the EC has signalled that the OEM might be penalized as a result of its investigation. Should it do so, it would be liable for fines of up to €22.3 billion ($27 billion).
Source(s)
