Apple Seeks to Fend Off EU Antitrust Charge Based on Spotify's Complaint 4s4l51 Technology News

The iPhone maker will set out its arguments to senior European Commission officials and their peers at national competition agencies at a closed hearing. 1f5ts

By Reuters | Updated: 29 June 2023 21:57 IST

Apple Seeks to Fend Off EU Antitrust Charge Based on Spotify's Complaint

Spotify has rejected Apple's updated anti-steering rules, saying nothing has changed at all 4p1t39

Highlights

EU antitrust boosted their case against Apple's anti-steering obligations
The Commission said the anti-steering obligations breach EU rules
Apple has said there is no merit in the case triggered by Sptify

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App Store.

The iPhone maker will set out its arguments to senior European Commission officials and their peers at national competition agencies at a closed hearing in Brussels.

EU antitrust enforcers earlier this year boosted their case against the company's so-called anti-steering obligations, but dropped an earlier charge against Apple's requirement that developers use its in-app payment system.

The Commission said the anti-steering obligations breach EU rules against unfair trading conditions, a relatively novel legal argument in an antitrust case.

Apple has said there is no merit in the case triggered by a Spotify complaint in 2019, pointing to the Swedish music streaming service's dominant market share in Europe, where Apple Music trails in third or fourth place in most EU countries.

Its other argument is that it has revised rules to allow reader apps such as Spotify and Netflix to include links to their website for s and payments, allowing app developers to by its controversial 30 percent App Store fee.

Reader apps provide content such as e-books, video and music requiring payment at .

Spotify, which will also attend the hearing, has rejected Apple's updated anti-steering rules, saying nothing has changed at all. It has urged a speedy decision from the Commission.

The EU executive said it never comments on possible oral hearings or on their date.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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