The European Commission found that Apple had restricted application developers and prevented users from accessing “ alternative music subscription services “.
The European Union fined Apple 1.8 billion euros for “ abused its dominant position » by hindering the distribution of different streaming applications to iPad and iPhone users.
The ruling came several years after Spotify filed an antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant, accusing it of introducing rules that “ deliberately limit choice and stifle innovation “. The European Commission ultimately sided with Spotify, saying Apple had violated EU antitrust rules by imposing restrictions on app developers that prevented them from informing users about ” alternative and cheaper music subscription services “.
The European Commission found that Apple’s tactics ” may have led iOS users to pay significantly higher prices for subscriptions to streaming music services » and caused “ non-financial harm in the form of a degradation of the user experience “.
The massive fixed fine of 1.8 billion euros, the European Commission said, takes these factors into account. The sum was also judged “ sufficient ” to deter Apple and other companies from employing similar tactics, and specifically ” proportionate to Apple’s overall revenue “. The firm was also ordered to end its arrangements anti-steering.
Spotify welcomed the move in a press release, calling it “ important moment in the fight for a more open Internet for consumers “. And to add: “ By requiring Apple to stop its illegal behavior in the European Union, the European Commission is putting consumers first. This is a fundamental concept of free markets: customers should know their options, and customers, not Apple, should decide what, where, when and how they buy. . »
Apple, however, objected to the decision and said it planned to appeal. The company argued that the European Commission had not “ discovered credible evidence of consumer harm ” and suggested that the decision was based on rules set out in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which will soon be implemented. Additionally, Apple argued that the decision ignored Spotify’s dominant position as the world’s largest streaming app, a success Apple said it deserved in part, by allowing it to appear on the App Store and ensuring that it works seamlessly with its products. “ Free is not enough for SpotifyApple said. They also want to rewrite the rules of the App Store – in a way that benefits them even more. »
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