Apple sanctioned by the EU for competition infringement: the brand sentenced to a fine of 1.8 billion euros

Apple condamnée à une amende 1,8 milliards d'euros. (illustration) dpa – Matthias Balk

Apple was fined this Monday, March 4, 2024, 1.84 billion euros by the European Union for preventing Spotify and other listening services from online music to inform users of payment options outside of its App Store, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced on Monday.

The case was brought before the European competition authority in 2019 by the world's number one music streaming service, Spotify. This is the first time that the iPhone manufacturer has received a fine for violating European competition law. Apple shares lost nearly 2% in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange, while Spotify gained 0.4%.

Apple will appeal

According to the European Commission, the restrictions put in place by Apple constitute unfair trading conditions. "For a decade, Apple abused its dominant market position for music streaming distribution through the App Store", declared Margrethe Vestager, during a press conference. "(Apple) blocked developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of Apple's ecosystem ;#39;Apple. This is against EU competition law, she added.

The fine breaks down into a basic element of 40 million euros, an amount that Margrethe Vestager described as “parking ticket"< /em> for the giant of "tech", and a deterrent of 1.8 billion. This is the first time that the EU has added such a dissuasive sum to the basic fine, said the Competition Commissioner.