Current location:world >>
EU set to fine Apple $540 mln for unfair play
world325People have gathered around
IntroductionU.S. tech giant Apple will soon be hit with a fine of up to 500 million euros ($540 million) from th ...
U.S. tech giant Apple will soon be hit with a fine of up to 500 million euros ($540 million) from the European Union for breaking the law on access to music streaming services, marking a significant setback for the company.
The European Commission has been investigating whether Apple had distorted competition in the music streaming market by blocking certain apps from informing iPhone users about more cost-effective subscription options outside of its own platform.
The announcement of the fine, which would be the EU's first against Apple, is expected early next month, the Financial Times reported, which cited five people close to the investigation. In 2020, Apple faced a 1.1-billion-euro fine in France for purported anti-competitive practices.
The EU investigation was initiated after an official complaint from music streaming service Spotify in 2019 that claimed it had been forced to raise its monthly subscription fees to off set expenses linked to Apple's App Store regulations.
The probe explored whether Apple's "anti-steering" conditions violated the bloc's rules on abuse of dominance, potentially disadvantaging music consumers by leading to increased costs for apps.
Spotify alleged that Apple restricts choice and competition within its App Store by imposing a 30 percent fee on all transactions.
Additionally, Apple prohibited Spotify and other companies from notifying customers on their devices that they could bypass the commission and secure a more favorable deal by registering on Spotify's website.
Apple contends that its fee is warranted because of substantial investments in maintaining a secure app store and granting Spotify access to a vast customer base.
Anti-competitive fees
In contrast, Spotify asserts that Apple Music, Apple's in-house music streaming service, does not incur equivalent expenses, leading to an unfair advantage and characterizing the fees as anti-competitive.
The European Commission is expected to declare Apple's actions illegal because they run counter to the bloc's rules that uphold competition in the single market.
Apple and other major tech operations are facing continuing heightened scrutiny because of competition concerns. Google is currently appealing fines exceeding 8 billion euros imposed by the EU across three competition investigations.
In a bid to pacify Brussels, Apple revealed alterations to its iOS mobile software, App Store and Safari browser last month, enabling companies to indicate more affordable subscription alternatives outside their platforms. Apple claimed that these adjustments "give developers choice". Upon the disclosure, Spotify criticized the modifications as a "complete and total farce".
The imminent fine for Apple represents another move by the EU to curb the dominance of so-called Big Tech companies. Regulations set to come into effect next month will designate Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft as "digital gatekeepers", subjecting them to stringent new competition guidelines.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Iterations news portal”。http://www.videocameralive.com/article-09c399900.html
Previous:Nuggets blow 20
Related articles
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
worldWALNUT, Calif. (AP) — Chase Dodd started swimming when he was just a kid. Once he began playing wate ...
【world】
Read moreConvicted rapist charged with murder in killing of Connecticut visiting nurse, Joyce Grayson
worldA convicted rapist was charged with murder and attempted sexual assault Friday in the killing of a v ...
【world】
Read moreBuffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula explores selling non
worldORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula are exploring the possibility of ...
【world】
Read more
Popular articles
- With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
- Five young men shot at gathering in Maryland park
- Bilbao and Granada left wanting more in tight
- Nice scores three as lax defending against costs Lorient
- Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
- Nice scores three as lax defending against costs Lorient
Latest articles
Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
Nice scores three as lax defending against costs Lorient
Coyotes' move to Salt Lake City elicits opposing responses in 2 cities
Bill Tobin, a longtime NFL executive who helped build the 1985 Bears championship team, has died
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
House Speaker Mike Johnson risks job to deliver aid to Ukraine
LINKS
- Profile: Tea Master Shares Family Secret for Common Prosperity
- China wins Asian Games women's hockey title, seals Olympic qualification
- Pic Story of Raptor Rehabilitator in NE China
- University Graduate Develops Cooperative, Helps Farmers Attain Wealth
- Peng Yan Leads Team in Developing USVs
- Chinese vice premier stresses importance of sci
- Central gov't lauds passage of safeguarding national security bill in HKSAR
- 'Mother Wu' Remains Loyal to Her Island Home
- Atlético survive late Dortmund rally to hold on for win
- Zhang ousted by Humbert at Monte Carlo Masters