It seems Apple has opened up a two-pronged legal battle to challenge streaming music regulations on both sides of the pond. The tech giant has appealed a hefty EU fine for alleged anticompetitive practices in Europe while simultaneously fighting an antitrust lawsuit in its home country.
First, Apple filed an appeal at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg contesting the €1.8 billion penalty issued by European regulators back in March. The Commission claims Apple abused its dominant position in the App Store to restrict rivals like Spotify from fairly competing in music streaming. As part of the order, Apple can no longer prohibit services from informing users about cheaper subscription options outside its marketplace. However, the company maintains there is no evidence its practices caused consumer harm.
The roots of this case trace back to a complaint lodged by Spotify five years ago. The streaming service alleged it had to raise subscription fees to offset the commission fees extracted by Apple’s “iron grip” over its digital ecosystem. While Apple declined to comment on the appeal, it previously argued EU authorities failed to substantiate any wrongdoing.
Across the pond, Apple also faces a major antitrust battle against the US Department of Justice. In response to a lawsuit filed in March, Apple submitted a letter asserting the government’s monopoly claims should be tossed, arguing no court has recognized such a vague “theory of liability.” It paints itself as facing stiff smartphone competition rather than dominating the market. The DOJ will likely rebut Apple’s arguments within the week to potentially expedite resolving the case.
