EU regulators assess Apple's plan for complying with music streaming order
Reuters
Published Apr 08, 2024 06:51AM ET
Updated Apr 08, 2024 06:35PM ET
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -EU antitrust regulators are checking if an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) proposal would comply with their order to let Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) and other music streaming services inform users of payment options outside its App Store, the European Commission said on Monday.
The iPhone maker risks antitrust charges and fresh fines if its proposal announced last Friday fails to satisfy the EU competition enforcer, which issued its order together with a 1.84 billion euro ($2 billion) fine last month
Under Apple's proposal, the Swedish music streaming service Spotify and others can include a link to their websites to inform users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services, away from Apple's App Store.
They can also invite users to provide their email address to be sent a link to the platform's website to buy digital music content or services. Links which result in digital purchases, however, carry a 27% fee to Apple, including for subsequent auto-renewing subscriptions.
"We are currently assessing whether Apple has fully complied with the decision," a Commission spokesperson said.
"In general, if the Commission suspects that there is non-compliance with an adopted decision, it will send the undertaking concerned a Statement of Objections," the spokesperson added.
Apple's plan complies with the Commission decision, an Apple representative said.
Spotify bemoaned the fact that it was still waiting for Apple to comply with the EU order, five weeks on.
Separately, the Commission is also investigating Apple's rules for its App Store and measures it announced recently to comply with new EU legislation known as the Digital Markets Act on concerns that these and various charges may hinder developers from freely communicating and promoting their offers.
($1 = 0.9234 euros)
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.