This European Commission sharpen your accusations against the camel view and focuses on ‘App Store’ rules for ‘streaming’ music providers. Community competition services, headed by Danish Margrethe Vestager, said that the obligations brought by the apple company “unfair trade terms“Violating the EU Treaty.
Vestager’s team is particularly concerned that “the anti-routing obligations imposed by Apple on developers of music streaming apps prevent those developers from informing consumers where and how to subscribe to streaming services at lower prices.” The obligations imposed are neither necessary nor proportionate to the provision of an ‘App Store’ on iPhones and iPads, according to preliminary analysis by European authorities. At the same time harming users of music streaming services on which Apple mobile devices eventually they can pay moreand, finally, they adversely affect the interests of music streaming app developers by limiting the effective choice of consumers.
According to the preliminary opinion from Brussels, all these requirements violate Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which prohibits the abuse of a dominant position. If the commission concludes that there is sufficient evidence of a violation, it can impose a fine of up to 10% of the company’s annual worldwide turnover. This new step follows the Commission’s statement of objection accusing Apple of abusing its dominant position. impose their own payment technologies restrict music streaming app developers (IAP obligation) and app developers’ ability to notify iPhone and iPad users about alternative music subscription services through in-app purchases.
cheaper alternatives
The document, published in Brussels this Tuesday, explains that the Commission is no longer deciding on the legality of the IAP obligation for the purposes of this antitrust investigation, but is instead focusing on the contractual restrictions that Apple imposes on app developers that prevent them from developing apps. Inform iPhone and iPad users about alternative music subscription options at lower prices outside of the app and choose effectively. In June 2020, the Commission launched a formal procedure regarding the company’s rules for distributing apps for app developers via the ‘App Store’ and in April 2021 sent a statement of objection to which Apple responded in September. year.
It replaces the first document sent today, in which affected parties notify them in writing of objections. Buyers may review the documents in the Commission’s investigation dossier, respond in writing, and request an oral hearing to present their observations on the matter before Commission representatives and national competition authorities. Submission of a new statement of objection shall not prejudice the outcome of the investigations and no deadline concluding the investigation, which will depend on the complexity of the case, the degree of company cooperation, and the exercise of defense rights.