Apple appeals huge EU fine for music streaming restrictions

Apple appeals huge EU fine for music streaming restrictions

Brussels hit US-based Apple with the fine in March
Brussels hit US-based Apple with the fine in March. Photo: JOSH EDELSON / AFP/File
Source: AFP

Apple is challenging a 1.8 billion-euro ($1.9-billion) fine by the European Union for thwarting access to information about cheaper music streaming services, an EU court said Tuesday.

The iPhone maker filed an appeal with the EU's General Court in Luxembourg on May 16, the court told AFP.

The European Commission, the EU's powerful competition regulator, hit Apple with the fine in March in a long-running saga dating back to a 2020 investigation launched after a complaint by Swedish streaming giant Spotify.

It was the first ever antitrust fine against Apple by Brussels.

The commission said Apple prevented app developers from informing iOS operating system users about cheaper music subscription services available outside the App Store.

Apple had said at the time it would appeal against the penalty.

Read also

G7 push to use Russian assets for Ukraine 'vital and urgent': Yellen

The US tech giant did not wish to comment but pointed to its statement in March in which it said EU regulators had not found evidence of consumer harm.

A commission spokesperson would not comment on Apple's appeal, but said Brussels "stands ready to defend all its decisions in court".

The fine is not the only legal tussle between the commission and Apple.

The two have butted heads in the EU courts over a 13-billion-euro order on Apple to pay Ireland in back taxes.

The case is currently at the bloc's highest court where the commission is appealing against a 2020 decision that annulled the order for Apple to repay the money.

Another bone of contention is the EU's new legal armoury to bring big tech to heel.

While Brussels says its Digital Markets Act (DMA) will lead to fairer competition, Apple has criticised the law, saying it risks endangering users' privacy and security.

Read also

US tariffs on Chinese EVs hurt green transition: XPeng boss

The DMA targets the world's biggest tech companies like Apple but also other firms including Meta and Microsoft, all of which must adhere to a list of obligations.

The commission in March launched its first probe into Apple under the DMA.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.