The ongoing rivalry between Apple and Spotify has taken a new turn as Daniel Ek, CEO of the leading audio streaming platform, sets his sights on an antitrust app store bill. Ek is keen on creating a “fair digital future” for all companies, big and small. While Spotify has been at the forefront of complaining about Apple’s unfair competition, the European Commission has recently confirmed the antitrust breach in the Spotify case.
Antitrust laws violated
The European Commission has found that Apple has violated antitrust laws by preventing rival music firms such as Spotify from independent operations. Apple Music streaming services have had an upper hand due to the inability of competitors to function without the assistance of the tech giant. Daniel Ek believes that the key to a fair digital future is an antitrust app store bill that will limit the control that tech giants have over their competitors.
Unfair competition
Spotify has previously submitted antitrust complaints against Apple in a number of countries. The company has alleged that Apple’s 30% charge on profits that developers pay on their products if they’re sold via its app store is unreasonable, and that only Apple Music has been exempt from this charge. Spotify has claimed that Apple abuses its dominant position in the market by manipulating the app store ranking algorithms and promoting its own content over competitors.
Call for swift action
Spotify’s cries against Apple have been joined by other media firms who also demand swift action against the tech giant’s “unfair practices.” While many support the idea of an antitrust app store bill, it remains to be seen how well it can be implemented. Countries all over the world face the challenge of balancing the needs of consumers with the interests of large corporations like Apple.
As the Apple vs Spotify battle heats up, it is clear that both companies are fighting hard to maintain their positions in the music streaming market. Daniel Ek’s call for a fair digital future for all has been met with mixed reactions, and it is yet to be seen what the future holds. However, it is clear that the antitrust lawsuits against Apple are gaining momentum, and it may only be a matter of time before the tech giant is forced to change its ways.
