Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, accused Apple of failing to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), claiming the company is stalling and urged the EU to take action. He described Apple’s compliance efforts as a “farce,” noting that despite a €1.8 billion fine for monopolistic practices, Apple still imposes unfavorable fees on developers. The EU’s competition chief, Teresa Ribera, will announce a decision on Apple’s compliance by March. The ongoing conflict traces back to a lawsuit where Spotify was penalized for limiting developers’ advertising capabilities outside the App Store, ultimately affecting user purchase options and developers’ profits.
Spotify has accused Apple of not adequately adhering to the DMA regulations. Daniel Ek, the CEO of the Swedish music streaming service, expressed that Cupertino is stalling the process, urging the European Union to take action and enforce the already established law.
The CEO criticized Apple’s attempts to follow the Digital Markets Act, calling them “a farce.” Despite facing a €1.8 billion fine for misusing its dominant position in music streaming, reports indicate that the iPhone manufacturer and App Store operator continues to implement fees and conditions that place developers at a disadvantage.
Teresa Ribera, the EU’s competition chief, has announced that a decision regarding Apple’s alleged noncompliance is expected in March. The company argues that it has made sufficient efforts, even releasing a white paper outlining its concerns about the EU’s interoperability regulations.
This dispute between Spotify and Apple traces back to a lawsuit where Apple was found liable for preventing other platforms from promoting more affordable offers outside of the iOS app. This practice compels users to make purchases through the App Store, which negatively impacts the profits of developers.
Apple contended that without the App Store, Spotify would not maintain its robust position in the European market, as it relies on “Apple’s tools and technologies” and “benefits from the trust that Apple has built with users.”
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