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Brussels – The European Commission (EC) has narrowed its investigation of Apple, which concerns payments in its store App Store for music streaming providers. Newly, the commission focuses only on the investigation of Apple's requirements, which prevent developers from informing users of iPhone and iPad devices about other options for purchasing music at lower prices outside of the App Store. The Commission, which acts as the EU's antitrust authority, made the announcement in a press release today.
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According to the EC, Apple's terms for developers are neither necessary nor adequate to operate the App Store on iPhones and iPads. At the same time, they harm users of music streaming services on Apple's mobile devices, who may end up paying more for the service.
In its objections sent to the American company at the end of April 2021, the Commission also accused Apple of abusing its dominant position in the market by forcing its own in-app payment technology on music streaming app developers. But now the commission has backed away from this point and stated that it no longer takes a position on the legality of this obligation.
Apple welcomes the commission's decision. He said he would respond to the EU regulator's concerns. The case was brought by Spotify, which complained that Apple was unfairly restricting competitors to its Apple Music streaming service on iPhones.
Today's allegations, known as a statement of objections, supersede a document from 2021, the EC said. If Apple is not able to refute the accusations, it is threatened with a fine of up to ten percent of its annual sales worldwide. Last year, the company had sales of over USD 394 billion, so the maximum fine could amount to over USD 39 billion (CZK 865 billion).
