Tim Hardwick
Apple is challenging a $1.95 billion fine imposed by the European Commission for preventing fair competition from music streaming rivals including Spotify (via Bloomberg).
The commission fined Apple in March, saying the company had abused its dominant market position. by prohibiting music streaming apps from telling users about lower subscription prices outside of the app.
The EU decision also required Apple to “remove anti-regulatory provisions” for music apps in the European Economic Area (EEA). Apple subsequently updated its App Store policies to allow music apps in the EEA to inform users of other ways to purchase digital music content or services, and to add links to websites for purchasing digital music subscriptions.
It is reported that that Apple has filed a lawsuit. at the EU General Court in Luxembourg to challenge the March decision. The commission told reporters it was prepared to defend its decision in court.
When the fine was issued, Apple said the decision was made “despite the Commission's failure to find any credible evidence of harm to consumers.” Apple also said the decision “ignores the realities of a market that is prosperous, competitive and rapidly growing.”
Apple also said the Commission has brought three different related cases against it over the past eight years. consistently found no evidence of harm to consumers or evidence of anti-competitive behavior.
The fine ends a long-running EU investigation sparked by Spotify's 2015 complaint about Apple's handling of third-party music streaming services on the App Store.
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Tags: Apple Antitrust, European Commission, European Union, Spotify[ 116 comments ]
