Apple could face EU antitrust charges in the coming weeks, after a complaint from competitive Spotify that it unfairly suppressed its music streaming service, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Moreover, The European Commission could send the statement of objections establishing suspected violations of the bloc’s antitrust rules to Apple before the summer, one person said.
As well as, The case is one of four opened by the EU competition official against Apple in June last year.
The EU charge sheet generally indicates whether a fine is deserved and what companies should do to prevent anti-competitive practices. However, The Commission declined to comment.
Apple also quoted its blog in March 2019 as stating that the App Store is helping Spotify leverage hundreds of millions of app downloads to become Europe’s largest music streaming service.
While, Spotify, in its 2019 complaint to the Commission, said that Apple unfairly restricts its rivals to its music service, Apple Music, and also protested the 30% fee charged to app developers for using the in-app purchase system. -app (IAP) from Apple.
In addition to the Spotify case, the Commission is also investigating Apple App Store rules for all competing applications, for e-books and audiobooks, as well as its terms and conditions for its Apple, Pay mobile payment service.
The UK competition authority has launched an investigation into Apple’s practices, while the Dutch agency will make up its mind.
