Spotify says Apple has rejected an update to its app with pricing information for EU users

Apple has rejected Spotify’s new version of its iOS app with in-app pricing information for users in the European Union, the streaming audio firm said Thursday.

The Swedish company has submitted a new version of its Apple app with basic pricing and website information, which is a minimum requirement under the European Commission’s ruling in the music streaming case, X said in a post on Wednesday.

Spotify said Apple rejected its update in a response sent directly to the company.

“Apple has once again defied the European Commission’s decision by rejecting our update to try to communicate with customers about our prices unless we pay a new tax to Apple. Their disregard for users and developers is matched only by their disregard for the law,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement.

Apple said it will approve the new version of the app after Spotify accepts the terms of the European Economic Area (EEA) Music Streaming Services Right and resubmits it for review.

“This right is required even if your app does not include an external link,” Apple said in Spotify’s response to the app update.

Under Apple’s proposal, Spotify and other streaming services could include links on their websites to inform users of payment options outside of its App Store, and the company would charge a 27 percent commission on transactions made through a link.

Spotify did not include the in-app link in the update sent to Apple.

Spotify has said it does not want to be part of Apple’s rights because it is a new set of management restrictions and includes a 27 percent commission on digital purchases made through links.

“We are currently assessing whether Apple has fully complied with the decision,” a European Commission spokesman said, adding that the Commission would also assess any changes Apple made to the App Store’s terms of business under the Digital Markets Act.

In March, Brussels fined Apple €1.84 billion ($1.97 billion, or roughly Rs 16,418 crore) for thwarting competition from music streaming rivals through restrictions on its App Store.

© Thomson Reuters 2024