The EU Commission fines Apple €1.8B for stifling competition from rival music streaming services, the EU's third-largest antitrust fine; Apple plans to appeal

iPhone maker hit by first-ever Brussels fine as competition watchdogs step up scrutiny of Big Tech

Financial Times 2024-03-04 Javier Espinoza

Discussion

@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
And a $2 billion EU fine related to Spotify, apparently. Hello, M3 MacBook Air an hour later!
@kristakbrown Krista Brown on x
Apple's gatekeeping ability is something else. This $2 billion fine goes after its anti-competitive activity in the music streaming space, but the same could be found in every sector that uses its app store. By having the hardware (iPhone and Macs) Apple controls wayyy too much. …
@zach_cer Zach Meyers on x
Commission fines Apple €1.8bn (much more than the earlier reported €500m). Comes two days before DMA D-Day which should stop the behaviour anyway. Perhaps the Commission had earlier thought that with a low enough fine Apple wouldn't have bothered appealing?...
@timsweeneyepic Tim Sweeney on x
EU finding of lawbreaking by Apple. In America, the issue is coming before the District Court in Epic v Apple as Epic challenges Apple's malicious compliance with the court's anti-steering injunction.
@ugambini @ugambini on x
still peanuts 🥜 for #Apple 🍎 takes a few days to make up that motorway toll cost of doing business
@beuc @beuc on x
The @EU_Commission's decision that Apple broke 🇪🇺 antitrust rules by restricting consumers' choice of music streaming services in the Single Market is a strong signal in favour of consumers. Our reaction: https://www.beuc.eu/...
@simonvandorpe Simon Van Dorpe on x
A hefty EU competition fine for Apple, days before new EU gatekeeper rules start applying. Developers paying for the App Store, however, remain doubtful on whether it will really allow for more competition to emerge
@raulpesch Raul Pesch on x
It's about time. Bizarre that @Apple got away with this for so long. | Commission fines Apple over €1.8 billion over abusive App store rules for music streaming providers https://ec.europa.eu/...
@bostoenfriso Friso Bostoen on x
The return of unfair trading conditions as an abuse of dominance? This form of abuse moved to the background, at least at the EU level, but this decision may hail a comeback (the EC is also relying on it in Facebook Marketplace).
@florian4gamers Florian Mueller on x
Quick analysis of this EU Commission antitrust ruling against Apple over the Spotify complaint, which was expected to come down, though rumors had it the fine would be “only” $500M and now it's more than 3 times that amount. Not a major breakthrough and will be appealed. 🧵1/6
@lewis_crofts Lewis Crofts on x
Of the 1.84 billion fine, the lump sum was 1.8 billion. That means that the original base fine would have been 40 million. That's not a lot.
@lewis_crofts Lewis Crofts on x
.@Apple clearly not happy about this. Says there is no harm to consumers, no anticompetitive behavior and the @EU_Commission is trying to enforce the #DMA before it comes into force (in a couple of days). Apple says this decision will just cement @Spotify dominance.
@aoifewhite101 Aoife White on x
Massive fine for Apple, just behind record penalties for Google's shopping and Android. It's the first time Apple has been fined by the EU for an antitrust breach.
@eu_competition @eu_competition on x
The 🇪🇺 Commission fines #Apple over €1.8 billion over abusive App store rules for music streaming providers🎶 More information ⬇️ 🔗 https://europa.eu/!yyFVPj #EUAntitrust [image]
@samuelstolton Samuel Stolton on x
❗️EU's @vestager hits Apple with a €1.8 billion fine for silencing music apps from telling users of cheaper deals. Apple also barred from this conduct in future (as #DMA requires). Fine is a tiny fraction of Apple's multi- billion-$ services revenue.
@eu_commission @eu_commission on x
We've imposed a fine on Apple for its abusive App Store rules for music streaming providers. Press conference by Executive-Vice President @vestager ↓ https://twitter.com/...
@vestager Margrethe Vestager on x
Today, @EU_Commission has fined @Apple 1.84 bn € for abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of #music #streaming #apps. 👉@Apple illegally restricted #app developers' ability to inform #users about cheaper options to buy🎶, outside the🍏ecosystem.
r/wallstreetbets r on reddit
Apple hit with more than $1.95 billion EU antitrust fine over music streaming
@timsweeneyepic Tim Sweeney on x
Denial is a river that flows through Cupertino! Apple's bitter griping simply describes their historic, pre-monopoly relationship with app makers: the device provides great APIs, and apps provide great features to attract users. Everyone profits together. https://www.apple.com/..…
@spotifynews @spotifynews on x
The @EU_Commission decided Apple's policies against music streaming services are illegal. Here are our thoughts: https://newsroom.spotify.com/ ... [image]
@wavesblog Simonetta Vezzoso on x
“Apple is set to comply with the DMA in days” yep
@vnchocotaco @vnchocotaco on x
Sheeesh 💀 https://www.apple.com/...
r/apple r on reddit
[Apple Newsroom] The App Store, Spotify, and Europe's thriving digital music market

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The EU Commission fines Apple €1.8B for stifling competition from rival music streaming services, the EU's third-largest antitrust fine; Apple plans to appeal

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