Apple declared on Wednesday that it would allow app developers to sell goods outside of its own store, provided that they continued to receive commission.
Spotify called that “outrageous” and said Apple was “stopping at nothing” to maintain its financial position. It is pleading with the British government to stop imposing comparable charges within the country.
We’ve reached out to Apple for a response.
The company’s protracted legal dispute with Fortnite developer Epic Games led to the introduction of the fees in the US.
The court ruled in favor of Apple on a number of points, but it broke the law when it prohibited app developers from informing users about alternative payment methods, such as links that circumvent Apple’s own App Store payment system.
Largest developers pay 30% to use this system, while 15% or less are charged by smaller developers, and 85% of developers pay nothing at all.
Apple has implemented new regulations in the US as a result of the ruling, allowing users to subscribe to services without utilizing its system in exchange for a fee that could reach 27% for developers.
The company claimed in court filings that the commission fee complied with the court’s decision and added that App Store developers profit from Apple’s services.
“All App Store developers – including those who place buttons or links with calls to action in their apps – benefit from (among other things) Apple’s platform integrity,” according to the filings.
Among the other advantages mentioned were “marketing and external advertising, and a safe environment for users to download and purchase apps and in-app content.”
In a furious response, Spotify said that the policy “flies in the face” of the US court’s efforts to allow for more competition.
“Once again, Apple has demonstrated that they will stop at nothing to protect the profits they exact on the backs of developers and consumers under their app store monopoly,” it stated in a statement.
Apple has been targeted by Spotify in the past for its fees. It claimed to have “insane” levels of control over the internet in October 2023.
It now states that the UK government ought to step in.
This is a blatant imitation of Apple’s fees, and it needs to stop with the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill.
“We strongly urge UK lawmakers to pass the bill swiftly to prevent Apple from implementing similar fees, which will help create a more competitive and innovative tech industry for UK consumers and businesses.”
The goal of the government’s digital markets bill, which was introduced last year, was to limit the influence of the tech companies.
According to a government spokesperson who spoke to the BBC, the bill would give authorities the authority to “consider targeted measures” regarding app store transactions in order to preserve open and competitive digital markets.
The spokesman would not, however, state whether or not law enforcement would become involved in Apple’s case following the bill’s passage.
The individual said, “It is not for us to comment on specific cases.”
