The EU Commission, the American Tech company Apple, because of possible distortions of competition in the crosshairs: How the Brussels authority was currently, it has launched an antitrust investigation because of the conditions of the payment program, Apple Pay. In a second method, you want to check the charge of the music service Spotify, which Apple requires in its App Store, excessive commissions.
Apple Pay is a program for iPhones and iPads for the mobile Numbers on the Internet, but also in the retail sector. After a preliminary examination, the Commission has concerns according to its own information, that the terms and conditions of Apple to distort the competition and consumer choice, reduce.
Apple Pay is the only solution for mobile payments, with the help of the so-called near-field communications “tap and go” by Apple devices for payments in shops might. “Apple lays down clearly the conditions for the use of Apple Pay in commercial Apps and Websites,” said EU competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. “Apple does not deprive the consumers with its measures, but the benefits of the new payment technologies.”
Apple rejected the allegations. It was regrettable that the EU Commission is “groundless complaints” of a few companies that did not want to, according to the same rules as other games, take the occasion for such investigations.
complaint from Spotify
In the second method, the Commission will examine, among other things, whether Apple’s rules for developers to distribute Apps via the App Store against the EU in breach of competition law. In addition, the competition want to take guardians of the limitations in the view that App developers are not allowed to inform the user about alternative and often more favourable purchase options outside of the Apps. “It seems that Apple have taken the distribution of Apps and content to users of the popular Apple devices, the role of a “wicket”,” said Vestager. It must be ensured that this will lead to a distortion of competition.
The music streaming market leader Spotify had submitted in March 2019 official complaint with the EU Commission. The company argued, among other things, it would be at a disadvantage, because it has to deliver for the subscription accounts within the iPhone App, as 30 percent of the proceeds to Apple. The platform operator could keep the own streaming service, Apple Music, however, the entire amount. Also an E-Book and audiobook provider has written to the EU competition authorities, and about the App Store rules have complained.
“Today is a good day for consumers, Spotify, and other App-developers in Europe and around the world,” said Spotify in response to the announcement from Brussels: “The anti-competitive behavior by Apple has deliberately set out to disadvantage competitors, unequal conditions of competition and consumers for far too long, a reasonable choice denied.”
