The focus of the European Commission’s investigation has been Apple’s policy of preventing music streaming apps from informing iPhone and iPad users within the app that lower subscription prices are available when they sign up outside the App Store. The investigation started in 2019 after Spotify filed an antitrust complaint against Apple. EU regulators formally charged Apple in a 2021 anti-competitive investigation before the commission last year narrowed the scope of the investigation and dropped charges of forcing developers to use its in-app payment system.
Apple is in trouble with the European Commission
According to the paywalled FT report, the Commission says Apple’s actions are illegal and contrary to the bloc’s rules mandating competition in the single market. It would then ban Apple’s practice of blocking music services from allowing users outside the App Store to switch to cheaper alternatives; This has given Apple Music an unfair advantage in the past.
The outcome of the investigation essentially confirms the Commission’s preliminary view that Apple’s rules amount to anti-diversion and unfair trading conditions in breach of EU antitrust law. The commission has previously said the rules are harmful to users of music streaming services on Apple’s mobile devices because they could end up paying more and could adversely affect the interests of music streaming app developers by limiting effective consumer choice.