Governance

EU regulators assess Apple’s plan to comply with music streaming order

AuthorBTW Editorial

Reading Time2 min

PublishedApril 9, 2024

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Headline

Context

The European Commission said on Monday that EU antitrust regulators are checking if an Apple proposal would comply with their order to let Spotify and other music streaming services inform users of payment options outside its App Store. According to Apple’s proposal, Swedish music streaming service Spotify and others could add a link to their websites informing users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services outside of the Apple App Store.

Evidence

Pending intelligence enrichment.

Analysis

They may also invite users to provide an email address in order to send a link to the platform’s website to purchase digital music content or services. However, links leading to digital purchases are subject to a 27% charge to Apple, which includes subsequent auto-renewal subscription fees. Apple will face antitrust charges and new fines if the proposal it announced on Friday fails to satisfy the EU competition enforcer, which issued its order together with a 1.84 billion euro ($2 billion) fine last month. “We are currently assessing whether Apple has fully complied with the decision,” a spokesperson for the Commission said.

Key Points

EU antitrust regulators are checking whether Apple’s proposal complies with their order for Spotify and other music streaming services to inform users of payment options outside their app shops.
Apple will face antitrust charges and new fines if its proposal fails to satisfy the European Union’s competition enforcement agency.
The EU’s competition enforcement agency issued the order last month and fined Apple 1.84 billion euro (US$2 billion)