Spotify has launched an attack against Apple due to the unjustified abuses it believes it is making on its platform.
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The streaming service joined seven other companies operating in related industries, such as publishing, to urge European regulators to take action against Apple.
In an effort to target Apple and other entities for their “anti-competitive practices in Europe,” the Time To Play Fair campaign wrote a strongly worded letter to European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, demanding “substantial regulatory action.” This effort has been underway for years.
An ongoing dispute between Spotify and Apple over their conflicting notions of “anti-competitive behavior” has been simmering for some time. Much of this tension is rooted in the money Apple receives from subscriptions made on iPhones, as well as the rules of the App Store.
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However, in its letter, Spotify claims that Apple is becoming increasingly powerful while regulators have failed to act. It is therefore imperative that EU officials address this issue quickly by accelerating existing cases involving Apple’s anticompetitive behavior and ensuring that the upcoming Digital Markets Act imposes strict restrictions on Apple’s practices.
Four years ago, Spotify took a stand and filed a complaint with the European Commission over Apple's antitrust practices that restricted innovation, harming developers and consumers across Europe. As its website states, these behaviors had global implications for all parties involved.
Since then, Apple's dominance has expanded due to the failure of regulators to take timely and decisive action.
Time is of the essence, and it is time for regulators to take action against Apple before it continues to exploit its powerful platform. With the growing number of complaints being filed against them, it is imperative that authorities step in now and put an end to Apple’s violations.
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The cover letter is signed by Daniel Ek, founder and CEO of Spotify, as well as other leaders from Basecamp, Deezer, Proton and Schibsted. It also has broad support from business associations representing media and publishing companies, such as the European Publishers Council (EPC), France Digital & News Media Europe (NME).
Source of information: independent.co.uk
