A new letter was sent to the EU which came from Spotify and 33 other companies who are raising a complaint against Apple, specifically for their "lack of DMA compliance" which is hurting the industry. According to Spotify, it is "time to play fair" for Apple in this Digital Markets Act implementation which will take place in the upcoming week, also the time when the adjustments would appear.
Spotify is known for being a vocal critic of Apple throughout the years, centering on its App Store policies and other aspects of its tech which it denounces.
Spotify Complaint to the EU: Apple's 'Lack of DMA Compliance'
In a new letter submitted by Spotify to the European Commission, and made available to their website, the Swedish streaming platform along with 33 other companies is now raising concerns against Apple amidst the upcoming DMA implementation.
To be more precise, Spotify and co. are claiming that Apple's upcoming changes "lack" DMA compliance, claiming that it does not "meet the law's requirements therefore inhibiting our ability to deliver the benefits of the DMA to consumers as soon as possible."
The letter listed several key points where Apple's changes did not meet the said requirements of the law, including Cupertino's policy of sideloading and its restrictions, new terms set by Apple to developers, the new structure fee and Core Technology Fee (CTF), and privacy and security concerns over new controls.
Spotify Wants Apple to 'Play Fair' with DMA Implementation
According to Spotify, the EU's response "will serve as a litmus test of the DMA," highlighting the fact that the law was made to improve the lives of Europeans using tech. With this letter, Spotify wants Apple to "play fair" and urges the EU to take "swift, timely and decisive" action against Apple, centering on its citizens and the developers.
This letter included signatories like Deezer, Epic Games, Blockchain.com, Threema, and more EU associations and companies.
Spotify and Apple's Disputes: Antitrust and MORE
For many years already, Spotify and other tech companies have been massive with their moves against Apple, defying the company's App Store policies and rules for developers on the platform. The likes of Daniel Ek, Spotify's CEO, alongside billionaire and X owner Elon Musk, are known for previously speaking out against Apple's policies, with Ek calling it 'absurd.'
Before the EU's DMA implementation and making it clear to Apple that its policies and tech are considered "gatekeepers," Spotify was among the first to defy the company with its payment options for iOS subscribers. For those who are on iOS and more, Spotify's subscription for Premium no longer supports in-app purchases via the App Store, avoiding the 70-30 split.
The massive defiance of Spotify may also be seen on other platforms like Netflix and more, and it only goes to show how many disapprove of their policies in the current tech landscape. That being said, Spotify is leveraging the DMA again to go against Apple, now towing 33 other companies to bring up what they find lacking in Apple's upcoming DMA compliance, particularly their lack thereof.
