Apple Accuses Spotify of Seeking Free Access to Tools, Sparking Regulatory Attention
Apple has accused Spotify of demanding “limitless access” to its tools without paying for them, stirring up a heated legal dispute between the two tech giants. Apple argues that despite enjoying substantial support from the iPhone maker, Spotify pays only a nominal developer fee annually, while benefiting from the accessibility it has had to Apple’s tools, platforms, and customer base.
The iPhone giant has highlighted its pivotal role in Spotify’s success, specifically emphasizing the influence of the App Store in the music streaming platform’s growth. Apple points out that Spotify has leveraged its services, such as app review processes, developer tools, and frameworks, to enhance user experience. Furthermore, Apple highlights its responsiveness to developer feedback and regulatory scrutiny by adapting its payment systems and customer communication policies over time.
Contrary to Apple’s claims, Spotify criticizes Apple’s policies, considering them to be unfairly restrictive and biased in favor of its own music streaming service. The Swedish company argues that these rules hinder its ability to interact with its own customers on iOS devices, ultimately forcing Spotify to choose between compromising on customer experience or incurring additional costs that its competitors are not burdened with.
The ongoing battle between the two tech giants has caught the attention of EU regulators, who have preliminarily concluded that Apple’s App Store policies may indeed unfairly favor its own music streaming service over rivals like Spotify. The EU is expected to deliver its final decision, which may carry a considerable fine for Apple and potentially mandate policy changes to ensure fair competition and consumer choice within the digital marketplace.
Analyst comment
Positive news for Spotify, negative news for Apple. The market may see a decline in Apple’s stock price due to the regulatory attention and potential fine. Spotify’s stock price may experience a slight boost as the EU’s decision could level the playing field in the digital marketplace.
