BRUSSELS – On Tuesday, the EU narrowed its landmark antitrust lawsuit against Apple, focusing on how the iPhone maker is preventing apps from providing users with information about rival music subscription options. I guessed
The European Commission, the European Union’s executive body, filed its first lawsuit against Apple in 2021 for alleged anti-competitive conduct.
This was based on a complaint filed in 2019 by Sweden-based Spotify and others alleging Apple was misusing the App Store to promote its Apple Music.
In the latest announcement, the European Commission dropped charges against Apple over in-app purchase rules that force developers to use the company’s proprietary payment technology.
In a statement, the commission said only that Apple is restricting iPhone and iPad users from seeing other low-cost music subscription options outside of the app.
These policies are “neither necessary nor proportionate to the App Store offerings on iPhones and iPads, and end up paying more for users of music streaming services on Apple’s mobile devices.” It could be,” he adds.
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Apple said it was “satisfied” with the commission’s narrowing of the case.
“Apple will continue to work with the European Commission to understand and address concerns while promoting competition and choice for European consumers,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
The company is adamantly opposed to the lawsuit, saying it “hopes the Commission will stop pursuing unsubstantiated complaints.”
Apple’s App Review Guidelines state that “Developers may send notifications to their user base outside of their app regarding purchase methods other than in-app purchases.”
Apple faces scrutiny in the US and Europe for loosening its grip on the App Store, which has been criticized by the likes of Fortnite maker Epic Games and Twitter owner Elon Musk.
On Tuesday, Spotify welcomed the committee’s announcement, and its general counsel, Eve Konstan, called on the committee to reach a “quick decision.”
“Today, the European Commission sent a clear message that Apple’s anti-competitive behavior and unfair practices have harmed consumers and put developers at a disadvantage,” she said in a statement. said in
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