The European Union has fined Apple €1.8 billion for stifling competition from rival music streaming services, the first time the iPhone maker has been punished for breaching EU law.
Margrethe Vestager, the bloc’s competition chief, said that for a decade the tech giant had broken EU antitrust rules by “restricting developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of the Apple ecosystem”.
She said this amounted to abuse of the group’s dominant position for music streaming on its App Store.
The €1.8 billion penalty is the third-biggest antitrust fine the European Commission has imposed.
Your work questions answered: My hours have been cut but someone new has been hired. Can my employer do this?
Cliff Taylor: How the return of SSIA-style incentives might be on the cards for Irish households
From intern to CEO: does it pay to be a company lifer?
My remuneration ‘was substantial’: The interview transcript Derek Quinlan didn’t want made public
Apple said it would appeal, signalling years of legal fights in EU courts. Apple employs 6,000 people in the Republic.
It said the commission had reached its decision despite failing to “uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm”, adding that Brussels’ reasoning “ignores the realities of a market that is thriving, competitive and growing fast”.
[ US supreme court refuses to consider Apple appeal in App Store antitrust suitOpens in new window ]
The commission began its investigation in 2019 after music streaming app Spotify launched a complaint accusing Apple of anti-competitive behaviour.
– Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024
- Sign up for Business push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Our Inside Business podcast is published weekly – Find the latest episode here
