Apple has rejected Spotify's new version of its iOS app with in-app pricing information for users in the European Union, the streaming audio company said Thursday.
The Swedish company sent a new version of its app to Apple with basic pricing and website information, which is a minimum requirement under the European Commission's ruling in its music streaming case, it said in a statement on Wednesday to X
Spotify said Apple rejected its update in a response sent directly to the company.
“Apple has once again defied the European Commission's decision, rejecting our update to try to communicate with customers about our pricing unless we pay Apple a new tax. Their contempt for consumers and developers is only matched by the his contempt for the law,” a spokesman. by Spotify said in a statement.
Apple said it will approve the new version of the app after Spotify agrees to terms for music streaming services in the European Economic Area (EEA) and will send it back for review.
“This right is required even if your app does not include an external link,” Apple said in a response to Spotify about the app update.
Under Apple's proposal, Spotify and other streaming services can include links on their websites to inform users of payment options outside of its App Store, and the company would collect a 27 percent commission on transactions made through a link
Spotify did not include the app's link in the update sent to Apple.
Spotify said it does not want to be part of Apple's rights, as it is a new set of anti-steering restrictions and includes the 27 percent commission on digital purchases made through links.
“We are currently assessing whether Apple has fully complied with the decision,” said a spokesman for the European Commission, who added that the Commission will also assess any changes implemented by Apple to the commercial terms of the App Store under the Law on digital markets
In March, Brussels fined Apple 1.84 billion euros ($1.97 billion or roughly 16.418 billion rupees) for thwarting competition from music streaming rivals through restrictions on its App Store.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
