It's a post-Digital Markets Act (DMA) world, and Spotify continues to test what that means for its iOS app. He twitter.com/SpotifyNews/status/1783130145605173309″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:music streamer announced;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>music streamer announced which submitted an update for Apple's approval that would allow Spotify to display “basic pricing and website information” in its app in Europe and “the bare minimum outlined in the European Commission's ruling in its music streaming case.” Within a few hours, Apple rejected the update.
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“Apple continues to break European law” and unfortunately that means we still can't give EU consumers the information they need and the choices they deserve in our app. This is what we mean. twitter.com/tkcXQkRqLy;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>pic.twitter.com/tkcXQkRqLy
— Spotify News (@SpotifyNews) twitter.com/SpotifyNews/status/1783130145605173309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:April 24, 2024;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>April 24, 2024
In the news, shared in a post on continues to break European law. It is time that “The Commission must enforce its decision so that consumers can see real and positive benefits.”
In the hours after the Spotify hack, Apple quickly rejected the update. In a response sent to Spotify and shared with Engadget, the company said the following:
Hello Spotify team,
We're contacting you with new information about your app, Spotify – Music & Podcasts, version 8.9.33.
As you may already know, Apple created a new Music Streaming Services Right (EEA) for iOS and iPadOS music streaming apps offered in EEA stores. The right allows music streaming apps to use buttons, external links or other calls to action to direct customers to a purchasing mechanism on a website owned or controlled by the developer. You must accept their terms before adding any of these capabilities to your application. Find more information about the right here.
We notice that your current submission includes a call to action to purchase a Spotify subscription on your website. As such, you must accept the terms of the Entitlement to Music Streaming Services (EEA) and include the entitlement profile in your application for submission. To be clear, this right is required even if your app does not include an external link (nor does it require you to provide an external link). However, we will approve version 8.9.33 after you accept the EEA terms and resubmit it for review.
If you have any questions about this information, please reply to this message to let us know.
Sincerely,
App Review
Spotify is… surprise! — is not satisfied with this development. A company spokesperson told Engadget that “Apple has once again challenged the European Commission's decision, rejecting our update for attempting to tell customers about our prices unless we pay Apple a new tax.” They added that Apple's “disdain for consumers and developers is matched only by its disregard for the law.”
Apple and Spotify have constantly clashed over what the latter can and cannot do with its iOS app. After the DMA went into effect, Spotify submitted an update to Apple that would have allowed users to purchase plans directly from the app, but Apple rejected it. Apple did so even though the European Union had just fined it nearly $2 billion for “blocking” alternative music apps. The EU is also investigating Apple, Meta and Google for self-biasing and charging additional fees to developers.
Update, April 25, 2024, 2:50 pm ET: This story has been updated twice since it was published. The first update, at 8:45 a.m. ET, included Spotify's reaction to Apple's rejection. The second update, posted at 2:50 p.m. ET, included a letter sent by Apple to Spotify.
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