As expected, the head of the EU Competition Commission, Margrethe Vestager, today stated in her preliminary conclusion that Apple has unfairly favored Apple Music over its competitors.
The accusation The unfair preference is due to the high commission fees that Apple charges third-party apps in the App Store, as well as the fact that Apple does not allow app developers to tell users that other purchasing methods are available outside of the application. Since it is a preliminary judgment No fines or settlements were announced by the Commission today. The next step in the process is for the Commission to discuss the case with Apple. After that, the Commission will decide whether to bring formal charges and restitution.
Apple App Store Rules: Alternative payment methods are not allowed
If a violation of competition law is found, the Commission can force Apple to change the App Store's rules and impose a fine for past violations of up to 10% of annual turnover. Spotify first filed a complaint with the EU in 2019. Other companies such as Match and Tile have also expressed dissatisfaction with Apple's App Store policies. Next week, Epic Games and Apple go to court over a dispute over Apple's failure to allow developers to offer alternative payment methods in their apps. Apple's App Store rules require apps to use in-app purchases for digital transactions, from which Apple takes a 15-30% commission. These fees prevent competitors such as Spotify from offering the same service at the same price as Apple. (Photo by rarrarorro / Bigstockphoto)
