Apple's Plan to Comply With EU's DMA Regulation 'Farce', Spotify Says

Spotify has called Apple's new plan to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) "a complete and total farce." The iPhone maker could face strong action from the bloc if its proposed App Store changes do not comply with the Digital Markets Act, according to the EU's industry chief.

Spotify said on Friday that Apple’s new plan to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is “a complete and total farce.”

From early March, developers will be able to offer alternative app stores on iPhone and opt out of using Apple’s in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30 percent, under the bloc’s new rules.

However, developers will still be required to pay a “core technology fee” of EUR 50 (roughly Rs. 4,500) per user account per year under Apple’s new EU regime.

“From the beginning, Apple has been clear that they didn’t like the idea of abiding by the DMA. So they’ve formulated an undesirable alternative to the status quo,” the music streaming-giant said on Friday.

Spotify said it would have to pay a 17 percent commission if it stays in the App Store and offers its own in-app payment under the new terms.

“Every developer can choose to stay on the same terms in place today. And under the new terms, more than 99 percent of developers would pay the same or less to Apple,” Apple said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Apple faces strong action if changes to its App Store do not meet incoming regulations, the bloc’s industry chief exclusively told Reuters on Friday.

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