The European Commission fined Apple 1.8 billion euros for anti-competition

The European Commission (EC) fined Apple Inc. by 1.8 billion euros following an investigation into the fact that the company closed access to its platforms to music streaming competitors, including Spotify. About it reported Bloomberg publication.

“For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store. They did this by prohibiting developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside the Apple ecosystem,” the agency quoted EU Antitrust Commissioner Margrethe Vestager as saying.

The EC’s investigation was launched in connection with a complaint from the Swedish operator of the music service Spotify of the same name. The European company said it had to raise prices for monthly subscriptions to cover costs associated with Apple’s alleged interference in the App Store.

Apple March 4 published statement regarding the EC’s claims. The company said it would file an appeal against the commission’s decision, which would entail legal proceedings. According to Apple’s position, EU regulators could not provide credible evidence of harm to consumers and competitors.

February 15 Arbitration Court of the Moscow District admitted The decision and order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia against Apple Inc and the resolution imposing a fine of almost 1.2 billion rubles are legal.

The department recalled that in July 2022, the FAS completed its consideration of the antimonopoly case against Apple and found that the company imposed on Russian iOS application creators the need to use the Apple payment instrument in them. On February 19, Apple paid a fine to the FAS of almost 1.2 billion rubles. The exact amount amounted to more than 1.18 billion rubles, the funds went to the budget of the Russian Federation.