The European Commission sent a statement of objections to Apple on Tuesday 28 February due to concerns about the App Store’s rules for streaming music providers.
This step follows another statement of objections (from the end of April 2021) concluding that Apple abused its dominant position (see EUROPE 12710/1) by imposing its own integrated payment technology on music streaming app developers (IAP obligation) and by restricting app developers’ ability to inform users of iPhones and iPads of other subscription music services (anti-steering obligations).
The Commission is no longer taking a position on the legality of the IAP obligation for the purposes of the anti-competitive investigation, but is focusing on the contractual restrictions that Apple has imposed on app developers, which prevent them from informing users of iPhones and iPads of alternative subscription music options at lower prices outside the app and how to effectively choose them.
The Commission considers that Apple’s anti-steering obligations constitute unfair trading conditions contrary to Article 102 of the Treaty. The obligations imposed on developers of streaming music app would prevent them from informing consumers where and how to subscribe to streaming services at lower prices.
More info: https://aeur.eu/f/5iv (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)