Apple disadvantaged music streaming rivals like Spotify, EU says, setting showdown over App Store payment rules

  • Apple’s App Store rules disadvantage competing music streaming services, European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said on Friday
  • The move sets up another showdown between the smartphone giant and the EU four years after it was ordered to pay billions in back-taxes to Ireland

The EU said in a statement of objections that Apple’s strict App Store rules disadvantage competing music streaming platforms, favoring an argument that Spotify has made against its rival. Photo: AP

Apple got a European Union complaint over app payment rules, drawing one of the world’s toughest antitrust enforcers into a global battle over fees for downloads on smartphones and tablets.

The European Commission sent a so-called statement of objections to Apple on Friday, laying out how it thinks Apple abused its power as the key provider of music-streaming apps on its App Store. The case backs complaints from Spotify Technology, which accuses Apple of imposing its in-app purchase system to take a cut of its subscription fees.

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