\tSpotify filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) against Apple, stating its App Store rules further the agenda of its own music streaming service and puts other developers on the back foot.<\/p>\n
Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, explained in a blog post: \u201cApple is both the owner of the iOS platform and the App Store, and a competitor to services like Spotify. In theory, this is fine. But in Apple\u2019s case, they continue to give themselves an unfair advantage at every turn\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ek cited the 30 per cent commission developers must pay for all purchases made via the App Store as an example, noting this impacts their revenue.<\/p>\n
Spotify opted-out of Apple’s payment system in 2016 (a move also made by Netflix [1] late in 2018) following which it said it has been hit with \u201ca series of technical and experience-limiting restrictions\u201d including difficulty communicating with users.<\/p>\n
\u201cApple also routinely blocks our experience-enhancing upgrades. Over time, this has included locking Spotify and other competitors out of Apple services such as Siri, HomePod, and Apple Watch,\u201d he complained.<\/p>\n
Level playing field
\nEk said Spotify wants the same treatment as other apps on the App Store: Uber and Deliveroo, for example, aren\u2019t subject to the \u201cApple tax\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also wants consumers to have \u201ca real choice of payment systems, and not be locked-in or forced to use systems with discriminatory tariffs such as Apple\u2019s\u201d.<\/p>\n
The official complaint follows a letter written in 2018 by executives from European online players including Spotify and Deezer, calling for the European Union [2] to toughen-up laws intended to address alleged unfair business practices of US giants including Apple and Google.<\/p>\n
“After trying unsuccessfully to resolve the issues directly with Apple, we\u2019re now requesting that the EC take action to ensure fair competition”, Ek stated.<\/p>\n[1] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/apps\/news-apps\/netflix-pulls-itunes-billing-support\/
\n[2] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/apps\/news-apps\/content-leaders-call-for-tougher-eu-platform-stance\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spotify filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) against Apple, stating its App Store …<\/p>\n
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