By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Apple will on Friday search to fend off a revised EU antitrust cost and doable hefty tremendous linked to claims it prevents music streaming corporations comparable to Spotify from informing customers of different shopping for choices exterior its App Retailer.
The iPhone maker will set out its arguments to senior European Fee officers and their friends at nationwide competitors companies at a closed listening to in Brussels.
EU antitrust enforcers earlier this 12 months boosted their case in opposition to the corporate’s so-called anti-steering obligations, however dropped an earlier cost in opposition to Apple’s requirement that builders use its in-app cost system.
The Fee mentioned the anti-steering obligations breach EU guidelines in opposition to unfair buying and selling circumstances, a comparatively novel authorized argument in an antitrust case.
Apple has mentioned there is no such thing as a advantage within the case triggered by a Spotify criticism in 2019, pointing to the Swedish music streaming service’s dominant market share in Europe, the place Apple Music trails in third or fourth place in most EU international locations.
Its different argument is that it has revised guidelines to permit reader apps comparable to Spotify and Netflix to incorporate hyperlinks to their web site for sign-ups and person funds, permitting app builders to bypass its controversial 30% App Retailer charge.
Reader apps present content material comparable to e-books, video and music requiring cost at sign-up.
Spotify, which may also attend the listening to, has rejected Apple’s up to date anti-steering guidelines, saying nothing has modified in any respect. It has urged a speedy choice from the Fee.
The EU government mentioned it by no means feedback on doable oral hearings or on their date.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Enhancing by Jan Harvey and David Evans)
