Spotify and other companies unite to take action against Apple's 'Unfair' app store policies

Delhi : Spotify and other media companies, including Deezer, requested the European Commission to take action against Apple for unfair and anticompetitive practices in a combined industry letter on Wednesday.

The letter, written to Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Union's antitrust regulator, pleaded with the Commission to move swiftly in the interest of European consumers.

Since many years ago, Apple has been accused by Spotify of exploiting its market dominance by stifling competition with its App Store policies.

In the past, Spotify has filed antitrust charges against Apple in a number of nations, claiming that the 30% fee developers must pay to use Apple's App Store pushed Spotify to "artificially inflate" its own costs.

According to the letter, which was signed by the CEOs of media companies Schibsted, Proton, and Basecamp, "We are writing to you to call for swift and decisive action by the European Commission against anticompetitive and unfair practices by certain global digital gatekeepers, and Apple in particular."

Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, previously claimed that Apple "gives itself every benefit while simultaneously limiting innovation and hurting consumers."

In a series of tweets sent out last month, Daniel Ek re-invigorated his criticism of Apple, claiming the iPhone manufacturer "gives itself every advantage while at the same time impeding innovation and hurting consumers." In his 21-tweet thread, he had tagged several businessmen who shared his sentiments, including Musk, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Proton Founder Andy Yen.

"How much longer will we ignore the danger to the internet's future before we act? How many more shoppers will be excluded from choice? There has been much discussion. Talk is useful, but we need to do action "tweets from Daniel Ek.