The European Commission has previously established that Apple is abusing its dominant position in the distribution of music streaming applications through the App Store. The agency believes that the company is setting rules in its app store to the detriment of competitors. Two years ago, Swedish music streaming service Spotify complained about an unequal playing field with Apple Music on the App Store.
The essence of the claims is that Apple has set a 30% commission on the placement of streaming applications in the App Store, which has increased the prices for subscriptions of Apple Music competitors. Spotify decided to stop selling subscriptions through the Apple store and do so on its website, but Apple has banned informing users about alternative offers.
“The Commission has tentatively determined that Apple has a dominant position in the distribution of music streaming applications through its App Store. For app developers, the App Store is the only access to consumers who use Apple devices running iOS. Apple devices and software form a “closed ecosystem” where Apple controls every aspect of the iPhone and iPad user experience, the European Commission said in a statement. “The Commission opposes the obligation on app developers to use Apple's purchasing mechanism.”
In 2019, music streaming service Spotify complained to a European regulator that it had to pay a US corporation a 30% commission on every purchase, while other companies offering physical goods or services were not burdened with this “tax”. In the summer of 2020, the European Commission announced the start of an antitrust investigation against Apple.
On April 27, the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service imposed a turnover fine on Apple in the amount of RUB 906 million. (more than $ 12 million) for violation of antitrust laws. The investigation was carried out at the request of Kaspersky Lab and concerned barriers for developers of parental control applications.
About the company's prospects to appeal the fine – in the material “Kommersant FM” “Apple got to the FAS”.
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