On March 5th, it was reported that Apple Inc. has been fined €18.4 billion (approximately ¥143.9 billion) by the European Union for abusing its dominant position in the market for music streaming app distribution.
Following the verdict, Apple's competitor Spotify expressed strong support for the EU Commission's decision in its latest announcement, stating that the Commission has sent a clear message that "Apple's restrictions on communicating with consumers are illegal."
The announcement reads: "Apple's regulations prohibit Spotify and other music streaming services from sharing various benefits with users within our app, preventing us from communicating with them about upgrades, subscription prices, promotions, discounts, or many other benefits; of course, competitors like Apple Music are not prohibited from taking the same actions."
Spotify also stated: "While we appreciate the handling of this significant case, we also understand the importance of details. Apple often disregards the law and court rulings in other markets, so we look forward to the next steps in the process, hoping to definitively address Apple's long-standing unfair practices."
Apple responded to the ruling by stating that Spotify has never paid any fees to Apple. The decision by the EU is seen as ironic, and Apple intends to appeal.
"It's ironic that today's decision, made in the name of competition, solidifies the position of a successful European company as a leader in the digital music market," Apple said.
According to Apple, Spotify currently holds a 56% share in the European music streaming market, more than double that of its closest competitor, and has never paid any fees to Apple for the services that helped it become a globally recognized brand.
