In a major reversal, Apple now allows Spotify to display prices – including promotional offers – in the app and direct users to the provider’s website to sign up.
The move comes three months after the iPhone maker rejected an update to the Spotify app that did just that, and four months after the EU fined the company $2 billion for anti-competitive behavior in its dealings with its music streaming rival…
A brief summary
Spotify has been accusing Apple of anti-competitive practices in the music streaming business for years.
The company said Apple Music had an unfair advantage over Spotify because iPhone owners could purchase a subscription within the app, while if Spotify wanted to allow the same, it would have to pay Apple a 30% commission. Apple didn’t even allow Spotify to display subscription prices within the app unless it introduced in-app purchases.
Spotify filed a formal antitrust complaint with the EU back in 2019, and in March of this year, the EU found Apple guilty after a lengthy investigation and fined the company $2 billion.
Apple allows Spotify to display prices
Earlier this year, Spotify tested the market by releasing an update to its app that displayed subscription prices. Apple rejected the update.
However, Spotify says that Apple has since changed its mind and approved the update.
We can finally offer something that is as obvious as it is long overdue: iPhone customers in the EU will now see Spotify pricing information in the app and be able to purchase items directly on our website.
But the fight is not over yet
However, Apple still does not allow Spotify to actually link to the website within the app.
Unfortunately, Spotify and all other music streaming services in the EU still cannot give consumers the option to simply click on a link in the app and make purchases because of the illegal and predatory taxes that Apple continues to demand despite the Commission’s ruling.
Spotify calls on the EU to order Apple to allow direct links.
9to5Mac’s opinion
This is a big step towards resolving the dispute.
It’s a little hard to understand why Apple doesn’t allow a clickable link, though. It’s not like having users type in the URL themselves would be a hindrance, and allowing the link would likely resolve the antitrust complaint entirely.
As it stands, Apple is exposing itself to further legal action – all just to make a word clickable.
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