Apple was recently fined 1.8 billion euros (about $2 billion USD) by the European Union fee, which argues that the corporate abuses its dominant place to hurt Apple Music rivals on iOS. Even so, it appears that evidently the corporate nonetheless has unresolved points with Spotify, its major competitor, which is now accusing Apple of blocking its app updates within the EU.
Spotify says Apple is obstructing its app updates within the EU
Because the Digital Markets Act (DMA) got here into impact on March 7, 2024, developers can finally distribute their apps to iOS users outside the App Store in the EU. And even for apps accessible on Apple’s App Retailer, new guidelines be sure that builders can use various fee strategies for in-app purchases.
Spotify submitted an update of its iOS app to Apple on March 5. With this replace, the platform fully eliminated subscriptions utilizing the App Retailer’s in-app buy system. As a substitute, customers are actually prompted to go to Spotify’s web site to subscribe.
Nevertheless, in an e-mail from Spotify to the EU Fee seen by The Verge, the corporate accuses Apple of not having permitted this replace since then. “It’s been 9 days now and we’re nonetheless ready to listen to from Apple about our app submission to point out EU shoppers pricing and a hyperlink to our web site,” the e-mail reads.
Spotify spokeswoman Jeanne Moran says Apple’s delay “straight conflicts with their declare that they flip round opinions on app submissions inside 24 hours, and it additionally flies within the face of the timeline for adoption the Fee laid out.” When requested, Apple declined to remark.
It’s commonplace to see Apple holding again and delaying the approval of apps within the App Retailer due to one thing they don’t agree with. Nevertheless, it appears that evidently not even the $2 billion tremendous has modified the corporate’s thoughts about Spotify. It’s price noting that the EU has dominated that Apple can’t cease builders from telling customers about various fee strategies of their apps.
Builders towards Apple
Earlier this month, Spotify and dozens of different corporations sent a letter to the EU Commission complaining about “Apple’s lack of DMA compliance.” After the EU mentioned it might proceed investigating Apple in relation to DMA, the company relaxed some of its new guidelines for distributing apps outside the App Store.
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