EU Narrowing the Spotify Antitrust Case
The European Commission today announced it has narrowed its antitrust investigation into Apple’s rules for streaming music apps. In a revised Statement of Objections sent to Apple, the Commission said it will no longer challenge Apple’s requirement for apps to use the App Store’s in-app purchase system for digital goods and services. […] The investigation will now focus entirely on Apple preventing streaming music apps from informing iPhone and iPad users within the app that lower subscription prices are available when signing up outside of the App Store.
I’ve thought all along that most of the EC’s probe against Apple was overreaching (the stuff about opening up IAP in particular), but Apple’s anti-steering provisions are wrong and either already are illegal or should be made illegal.
Previously:
- Apple Working on Sideloading for Europe
- Apple Considering Dropping WebKit Requirement
- Apple Rejects Spotify Update That E-mails External Purchase Info
- Netflix Adds External Subscription Button
