Brussels is also investigating Apple for allegedly breaking EU laws when it comes to promoting its own ebooks over rivals on the App Store and over concerns that it undermines competition in mobile payments by limiting access to the near-field communication chips in iPhones for rivals to Apple Pay.
If Apple is ultimately found guilty of breaking EU rules, after a long period of potential appeals, the company faces a fine of up to 10 percent of global revenues.
Separately, Brussels is pushing through a new Digital Markets Act that seeks to define when Big Tech companies are behaving in an anti-competitive way so that remedies can be applied faster.
Credit: SOPA Images | Getty
Credit: SOPA Images | Getty
Spotify’s complaint against Apple
March 2019: Spotify launches official complaint against Apple in the EU. Spotify CEO Dan Ek warns of rising prices due to App Store’s fees.
May 2019: EU officials say they are preparing an official investigation.
June 2020: The EU begins probes against Apple Music, Apple’s ebook business, and Apple Pay.
March 2021: The EU says it is considering formal charges for Apple over Spotify’s complaint.
© 2021 The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way.