Spotify is accusing Apple of trying to dodge European Union antitrust rules with its newly proposed App Store fees, calling the changes a “sham.”
In a statement Thursday, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said Apple’s plan to let some app developers pay a commission to the iPhone maker on sales through outside websites is designed to “stifle their businesses immediately.”
“Apple is essentially rendering the DMA’s goals of offering more choice and more control to consumers useless,” Ek said.
The Digital Markets Act, which takes effect later this year, requires Apple to allow alternative ways to pay for some content subscriptions and lays out rules against self-preferencing.
“Apple has the control and they are confident that the European Commission will let them keep it,” Ek said.
As part of compliance, Apple has come up with a new “zero percent” commission option for developers that meet certain sales thresholds.
But Ek says it’s misleading. “Essentially, the old tax was rendered unacceptable under the DMA, so they created a new one masquerading as compliance with the law,” he said.
Under the changes, Spotify would still have to pay a fee for every download and update, even for users who never actually use the app.
“This will hurt developers, potential start-ups and those offering free apps most,” Ek said.
Apple also proposes letting developers use third-party payment options without paying commissions. But they would still owe Apple a commission for sales through the App Store.
For a popular app like Spotify, “you would pay the same or even more to Apple than under the prior rules,” Ek said.
Spotify has been a vocal critic of App Store fees and policies for years. In 2019, Spotify filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission. That led to an investigation that found Apple abused its control over the App Store and forced changes under the DMA.