Business / Spotify Hits Back at Apple, Calls It 'Monopolist'

NDTV : Mar 18, 2019, 10:47 AM
Spotify said Apple's response was "in line with our expectations". Every monopolist will suggest they have done nothing wrong, says Spotify. Earlier, Apple hit back at Spotify for its anti-trust complaint with EU. The tug of war between Spotify & Apple has intensified, with Swedish music streaming service now calling Apple a "monopolist". Spotify said that "Apple's response to our complaint before European Commission

The tug of war between Spotify and Apple has intensified, with the Swedish music streaming service now calling Apple a "monopolist".

Taking exception to Spotify's complaint with the European Union (EU) last week alleging iOS App Store rules to be unfair, Apple slammed Spotify for wanting "all the benefits of a free app without being free".

According a Variety report on Sunday, Spotify said that "Apple's response to our complaint before the European Commission is not new and is entirely in line with our expectations".

"Every monopolist will suggest they have done nothing wrong and will argue that they have the best interests of competitors and consumers at heart," said Spotify which entered the India market in February.

"This is evident in Apple's belief that Spotify's users on iOS are Apple customers and not Spotify customers, which goes to the very heart of the issue with Apple," it added.

Earlier, Apple hit back at Spotify for its anti-trust complaint with the EU.

"A full 84 percent of the apps in the App Store pay nothing to Apple when you download or use the app. That's not discrimination, as Spotify claims," Apple said in a statement.

In its complaint with the EU, Spotify said that Apple requires it and other digital services to pay a 30 percent tax on purchases made through Apple's payment system, including upgrading from a free to premium subscription.

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