Apple has reversed its stance and will now permit the music streaming giant Spotify to display pricing information, including promotional offers, within its app. This comes just three months after Apple rejected a Spotify app update that included these features and four months after the EU imposed a massive fine on the tech giant for anti-competitive practices. Finally, Apple officially allows Spotify to include such information.
Spotify has long accused Apple of creating an unfair advantage for its Apple Music service by imposing a 30% commission on in-app purchases while exempting its own platform. This forced Spotify to either forgo displaying pricing or comply with Apple’s fee structure, but now Apple allows Spotify to display it.
The EU’s antitrust investigation into Apple’s practices ultimately found merit in Spotify’s claims, which led to the hefty fine. After the ruling was done, Spotify submitted an updated app that once again included pricing information. Even though Apple allows Spotify this iteration, the company is still prohibiting Spotify from directly linking users to its website for purchases outside of the app.
Spotify has called on the EU to take further action, demanding that Apple be compelled to allow direct links. The company maintains that Apple’s continued fees are “illegal and predatory.”
This is a partial win for Spotify in its ongoing battle with Apple. The ability to display pricing is definitely a big step forward; the company remains determined to eliminate what it sees as Apple’s anti-competitive behavior. This new development, where Apple allows Spotify certain privileges, marks a significant change.
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