Spotify Unites with Media Firms and Urges EU to take Action against Apple's 'Unfair Practices'

Spotify Unites with Media Firms and Urges EU to take Action against Apple's 'Unfair Practices'

Music streaming service Spotify Technology, joined hands with other media firms such as Deezer and urged the European Commission to take action against Apple Inc for anticompetitive and unfair practices, in a joint industry letter.

The letter, addressed to the European Union antitrust regulator's Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, requested the Commission to act expeditiously for the welfare of European consumers.

Spotify has repeatedly accused Apple of abusing its market position using its App Store rules to stifle competition.

Previously it has submitted antitrust complaints against Apple in various countries, alleging the thirty per cent charge Apple requires developers to pay on its App Store has forced Spotify to "artificially inflate" its own prices.

The Chief Executives of the media firms in their letters asserted, "We are writing to you to call for swift and decisive action by the European Commission against anticompetitive and unfair practices by certain global digital gatekeepers, and Apple in particular."

Spotify for years has been trying to loosen Apple's ironclad grip on the App Store. It filed another antitrust complaint with European authorities in 2019, slamming the App Store's steep commissions as "the Apple tax." Spotify's founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek has argued that "every advantage while at the same time stifling innovation and hurting consumers."

When it responded to Spotify's complaint two years later, the European Commission initially agreed that Apple had indeed "abused its dominant position" over music streaming. Still, the EU has never published its final investigation, or required Apple to make any changes.

Spotify's Chief Executive Daniel Ek had previously said the iPhone maker "gives itself every advantage while at the same time stifling innovation and hurting consumers."