Spotify and other media companies call on EU to take action against ‘unfair’ practices by Apple’s App Store

Music streaming service Spotify, along with other media companies such as Deezer, urged the European Commission to take action against Apple for anti-competitive and unfair practices, in a joint industry letter on Wednesday.

The letter, addressed to the executive vice-president of the European Union’s antitrust regulator, Margrethe Vestager, called on the Commission to act quickly for the well-being of European consumers.

Spotify has for years accused Apple of abusing its market position by using its App Store rules to stifle competition.

He has already filed antitrust complaints against Apple in various countries, alleging that the 30% fee Apple asks developers to pay on its App Store has forced Spotify to “artificially inflate” its own prices.

“We are writing to call for swift and decisive action by the European Commission against the anti-competitive and unfair practices of certain global digital gatekeepers, and Apple in particular,” reads the letter, signed by the chief executives of the media companies. Schibsted, Proton and Base Camp.

Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek previously said the iPhone maker “gives itself every advantage while stifling innovation and hurting consumers.”

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Last month, Ek renewed his attack on Apple in a series of tweets alleging the iPhone maker “gives itself every advantage while stifling innovation and hurting consumers.” He had tagged a number of likeable business leaders in his 21-tweet thread, including Musk, Microsoft Chairman Brad Smith and Proton founder Andy Yen.

“So how much longer are we going to look away from this threat to the future of the internet? How many more consumers will be denied choice? ‘action,” Ek tweeted.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

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