Spotify files a complaint against Apple, saying its App Store rules 'purposely limit choice and stifle innovation'

Spotify has filed a complaint with the European Commission over Apple's App Store, arguing the regulatory body must "take action to ensure fair competition."

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on Wednesday accused Apple of introducing rules in the App Store that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation," allowing the company to act "as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers." Ek said that Apple gives itself an "unfair advantage" by requiring companies like Spotify to pay a 30 percent tax on purchases made using its payment system. Paying the tax would require the company to raise prices, he explained, while not paying requires it to incorporate "a series of technical and experience-limiting restrictions."

Ek concluded with three requests: first, he says that Spotify should "be able to compete fairly on the merits" and be subject to the same rules as Apple Music. Second, consumers should have a "real choice" of payment systems and not have to use Apple's with its "discriminatory tariffs." TechCrunch points out that on Google Play, for example, Spotify doesn't have to use Google's payment system. And finally, app stores should not be able to "control the communications between services and users," Ek said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Spotify has also launched a website detailing its issues with Apple called Time for Fair Play and a YouTube video that lays out its concerns in friendly cartoon form. The Verge points out that this step by Spotify comes days after 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) proposed breaking up big tech companies like Apple. Apple has not yet commented on Spotify's complaint.