EU har preliminärt anklagat Apple för att bryta mot konkurrenslagstiftningen genom App Store. Apples regler anses ha drivit upp kostnaderna för konsumenter gällande musikströmningstjänster och givit Apple Music en fördel.

I EU:s invändningar nämns bland annat att Apple tar 30 procent i avgift för konkurrerande tjänster, samt att konkurrerande tjänster inte ens får informera användare att det finns billigare sätt att prenumerera på, utan Apples avgift.

Our preliminary conclusion: @Apple is in breach of EU competition law. @AppleMusic compete with other music streaming services. But @Apple charges high commission fees on rivals in the App store & forbids them to inform of alternative subscription options. Consumers losing out.

— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) April 30, 2021

Eftersom strömningstjänster behövt kompensera för Apples avgift när abonnemang tecknas via appen, anses det ha resulterat i högre priser för konsumenter. Om Apple fälls i slutändan kan det resultera i böter på upp till 228 miljarder kronor.

Ensuring the iOS platform operates fairly is an urgent task with far-reaching implications. The European Commission’s statement of objections is a critical step toward holding Apple accountable for its anticompetitive behavior, ensuring meaningful choice for all consumers and a level playing field for app developers.
– Horacio Gutierrez, Spotify

The Commission’s preliminary view is that Apple’s rules distort competition in the market for music streaming services by raising the costs of competing music streaming app developers.

This in turn leads to higher prices for consumers for their in-app music subscriptions on iOS devices. In addition, Apple becomes the intermediary for all IAP transactions and takes over the billing relationship, as well as related communications for competitors.