Spotify users in Europe will be able to purchase audiobooks and subscription plans directly from the music-streaming app beginning in March, thanks to the region’s new Big Tech competition rules, the Swedish business announced on Wednesday.
Spotify in Europe
The move will allow the company to dodge Apple’s 30% tax for software Store transactions, which has long been a point of friction between software creators and the tech giant.
Spotify has long been mired in a legal battle, claiming that it was compelled to raise the price of its monthly subscriptions to meet costs associated with Apple’s App Store guidelines. The Stockholm-based company’s US-listed shares increased by about 2%.
“For years Apple had these rules where we couldn’t tell you about offers, how much something costs, or even where or how to buy it,” Spotify said in a blogpost.
Big Tech Businesses
“The DMA (Digital Markets Act) means that we’ll finally be able to share details about deals, promotions, and better-value payment options in the EU.”
The DMA, which all Big Tech businesses must comply with by March 7, requires corporations to regard their own products and services the same as their competitors’.
Apple intends to contest the European Union’s decision to include the whole App Store on the bloc’s new digital antitrust list in November.
On Tuesday, Apple requested a London tribunal to dismiss a $1 billion lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 1,500 software developers challenging software Store guidelines.
“We’ve always been interested in helping developers distribute their apps, and new options would add more competition in this space,” Meta said on Wednesday. “Developers deserve more ways to easily get their apps to the people that want them.”
Apple also received criticism from Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who described App Store policies and revenue structures as inappropriate and creating a conflict of interest.
To read our blog on “Spotify removed many free traits to aid premium users in IND,” click here