Spotify sues Apple for antitrust violations Apple strongly criticizes Spotify for breaking the music industry

Spotify, a music streaming service, has sued Apple to the European Commission for violating antitrust laws as "Apple unfairly regulates the services of competitors competing against Apple Music" In the case, Apple has officially released a comment on the Spotify case. Among them, Apple states that "Spotify's claims are different from facts," but Spotify has shown strong resistance to this Apple comment.

Spotify Responds to Apple's Response, Calls Company a 'Monopolist' – Variety
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/spotify-responds-to-apples-response-over-app-store-flap-calls-company-a-monopolist-1203164353/

Apple says Spotify 'wants all the benefits of a free app without being free'
https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/03/15/apple-says-spotify-wants-all-the-benefits-of-a-free-app-without-being-free

Apple charges up to 30% for billing paid plans in the App Store, a platform for apps for iOS. Spotify said "Apple has monopoly," saying that this fee, also known as "Apple tax", has forced us to raise the original paid plan, and even if we applied for development to Siri, HomePod, Apple Watch etc. "It is in violation of the prohibition law," it clarified that it appealed to the European Commission.

Spotify sues the European Commission with antitrust violations "Apple's too high fee hinders fair competition"-GIGAZINE

In contrast, on March 14, 2019, Apple officially released a comment titled "Spotify's Insistence."

Against Spotify's claim-Apple (Japan)
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/03/addressing-spotifys-claims/

Among them, Apple has stated that "We are frequently working with the company to deploy Spotify's services on more devices and platforms," denying Spotify's non-cooperative attitude. You Also, for a fee of 30%, "as Spotify points out, the revenue share (Apple's share of sales) is 30% for the first year of the annual subscription, but this ratio is 15% after 2 years Spotify does not mention that it will be halved, "commented. He added that "If the App Store ecosystem did not intervene, Spotify would never have grown into a business like today," showing that Spotify's contract to pay a fee is reasonable. .

And "Apple says," Spotify has grown its business dramatically through the App Store for many years, but the benefits from the App Store ecosystem (the substantial revenue they earn from App Store users We are thinking that we can do everything without payment to the markets we have benefited (including the App Store), and at the same time, even if Spotify delivers the music that our listeners like, Because the money paid to the artists, musicians and songwriters who made the game is so small, it goes to trial with the creators who provide the music, "said Spotify, who refuses to pay to the App Store and artists. Strongly criticized that it would destroy the music industry.

by mormondancer

Following Apple's response, Spotify's spokesman said in an interview with Variety that "monopolyists always 'do nothing wrong with themselves,' put top priority on competitors 'and consumers' interests" I argue, "criticized Apple's answer. "We have filed a complaint with the European Commission because Apple is clearly against the market competition and the interests of consumers, and we have filed a complaint with the European Commission." Spotify's iOS users are not Spotify's customers but Apple's customers "Is Apple's way of thinking is central to this issue."

This is not the first time Spotify has appealed Apple to the European Commission, and has appealed to the European Commission in 2016 and 2017 . According to Apple Insider in foreign media, the two have had a relatively good relationship in recent years, but this time they have returned to a tense relationship at once. Variety expects Apple and Spotify's full war status to continue for some time.