New twist in the Spotify vs. Apple: in an email sent to the European Commission, the service accuses its rival of preventing it from updating its application. The streaming platform wanted to take advantage of the implementation of the DMA to offer its users on iOS a new means of payment. But obviously, this was not to the taste of the Cupertino company.
Relations continue to sour between Spotify and Apple. The conflict started when Spotify wanted to take advantage of the Digital Markets Act, this new European regulation which allowed it to set up another means of payment on iOS, external to the App Store – and therefore, from the commission received by Apple. But it was really on March 4 that things escalated. That day, the Cupertino company received a record fine of 1.8 billion euros, courtesy of the European Commission, for unfair competition in the music streaming market.
Apple does not beat around the bush in its response press release: for the company, the culprit can only be Spotify which, according to it, will benefit greatly from this heavy sanction. Until now, Spotify had shown relative discretion on the matter, contenting itself with congratulating the European Union’s initiative. But Apple obviously couldn’t stop there and, according to Spotify, the war is still far from over between the two giants.
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Apple would block Spotify updates in Europe
On March 5, Spotify sent Apple the necessary form to deploy an update to its application. But this is not just any update, since it brings a direct link to the Spotify site, which would allow payments to be bypassed via the App Store. Ten days later, the Swedish company still has not obtained Apple’s agreement to deploy its update. “A new example of how Apple, if left unchecked, will seek to circumvent and/or not comply with the Commission’s decision”warns Spotify.
“Given Apple’s track record, Spotify is concerned that Apple’s delay is intentional and intended to delay or avoid compliance,” she continues, expressly asking the European Commission to intervene in this matter. Spotify’s conclusion is clear: Apple would always seek to maintain its dominant position in the market, by “punishing” those who oppose it. Apple has still not officially communicated on the situation.
Source: The Verge