Apple Allows Spotify to Show Pricing Info to EU Users in iPhone App

[MacRumors]

Spotify says it has received approval from Apple to display pricing information in its iOS app for users in the European Union, following its years-long legal struggle with the company.

Spotify says that from Wednesday, iPhone users in the EU will be informed of pricing information in the app and the fact that they can go to the company's website to purchase items directly.

"EU iPhone consumers will now benefit from seeing our end of summer promotional pricing," said Spotify in an updated blog post. "They'll also finally be able to see how much a Premium plan of their choosing costs once the promotion ends."

The music streamer is not opting into Apple's complicated new business rules under the Digital Markets Act, but is instead taking advantage of Apple's "entitlement" for music streaming services – a result of the European Commission's decision on March 4 which found that Apple violated the EU's antitrust laws and fined them over €1.8 billion.

Spotify is still not giving users a link to click to make purchases from outside of the App Store, which it could have done under the entitlement terms, but it presumably does not want to give Apple a cut of any off-platform sales, which Apple would likely argue is a reflection of the value the App Store provides.

"Unfortunately, Spotify and all music streaming services in the EU are still not able to freely give consumers a simple opportunity to click a link to purchase in app because of the illegal and predatory taxes Apple continues to demand, despite the Commission's ruling.

"The fight continues. iPhone consumers everywhere deserve basic information about how much things cost, when they can take advantage of great deals and promotions, and where to go to buy those things online. If the European Commission properly enforces its decision, iPhone consumers could see even more wins, like lower cost payment options and better product experiences in the app."

Spotify has been in a legal spat with Apple in the EU since 2019, when it filed an antitrust complaint over App Store rules. As recently as March Spotify complained to the Commission that Apple was failing to approve a Spotify update that adds information on subscription pricing and links its website.

Article Link: Apple Allows Spotify to Show Pricing Info to EU Users in iPhone App

 

[Kottu]

And so it begins..

 

[neuropsychguy]

"Spotify is still not able to let users click a lick to make purchases from outside the App Store"

Clicking a lick? Sounds moist.

Edit: 3 hours later and the typo isn't fixed. I think it should be kept at this point.

2nd edit: Just for fun, got it archived. 😃

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

It's a start.

 

[alexfoxy]

typo “click a lick”

 

[MilaM]

Apple will change, one huge fine at a time. But apparently it's still more profitable to drag this out. I'm wondering though if this kind of behavior will cost Apple even more credibility in the developer community. Only time will tell.

 

[Kottu]

"Spotify is still not able to let users click a lick to make purchases from outside the App Store"

Clicking a lick? Sounds moist.

AI chose the most common word which the writer use.

 

[surferfb]

Good! While I continue to believe the DMA is a terrible law, I am also against Apple’s anti-steering provisions. So I’ll give it credit for this.

 

[klasma]

click a lick

It that a thing?

 

[krspkbl]

How generous of them!

Just kidding, they were forced to do this. Remember that.

 

[Rogifan]

And Apple will still make tens of billions in profit every quarter.

 

[Wieslawo]

Grow up Spotify. You have a place in the world's largest bazaar, which you didn't contribute a penny to, and you still have the nerve to demand privileges. Your position is so strong that now complaining that evil Apple is doing something wrong to you is pathetic. This evil Apple probably helped you a lot to be the number 1 choice for music streaming services today. You have a strong brand, you have a great position, you have excellent UX and a lot of cool solutions. But you have no decency for that, you don't pay artists and you constantly demand more from others.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

Speaking of helping yourself to money that was rightfully earned by other people, Daniel Ek makes more money from Spotify than Taylor Swift and Drake - quite possibly the most streamed artists in the world - made combined: https://www.gearnews.com/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-more-revenue/

And that's to say nothing of the thousands of other artists without whom he would literally not have a service.

 

[scorpio vega]

Apple will change, one huge fine at a time. But apparently it's still more profitable to drag this out. I'm wondering though if this kind of behavior will cost Apple even more credibility in the developer community. Only time will tell.

lol what are they going to do?

Abandon iOS where they make money because iOS users actually buy apps and only focus on android apps where android users don’t lol and piracy is far more rampant

 

[sehns]

The 30% tax is incredibly hostile especially to apps that have a built in cost licensing they have to pay. We developed a therapy app and Apple made us pay the 30% despite real humans having to respond which also had to be paid. In the end after paying our therapists Apple made more profit than we did, so we killed the business.

The tax really only makes sense when its for software alone, not licensed content (netflix, kindle, spotify) or services (human labor/time)

We'd even be happy to use Apple Pay and cut them in for the merchant processing, but for many apps business models 30% is just egregious and unfair.

I bet many game developers pay so much on marketing/advertising that apple also makes more from their 30% than the devs do.

 

[scorpio vega]

Good! While I continue to believe the DMA is a terrible law, I am also against Apple’s anti-steering provisions. So I’ll give it credit for this.

Apple is not anti steering. They simply aren’t wanting corporations to use their access to customers to market their product.

Same way you don’t go into Wendy’s advertising McDonalds.

 

[I7guy]

Apple will change, one huge fine at a time. But apparently it's still more profitable to drag this out. I'm wondering though if this kind of behavior will cost Apple even more credibility in the developer community. Only time will tell.

Credibility to one dev. Spotify. Most others won’t care (out of the millions)

 

[sehns]

Apple is not anti steering. They simply aren’t wanting corporations to use their access to customers to market their product.

Same way you don’t go into Wendy’s advertising McDonalds.

99.9% of apps have to go out and get their own customers. They have to market, pay for PR, run ads. Only a very small group of successful apps get free advertising from apple on the app store. It's not Apple that is bringing in the customer, it's the developer. The customer just happens to be using Apples platform. If you had your own app business, you'd understand. They have to invest all the work building the product, marketing the product, and Apple gets to freeload like a landlord. Often after all the expenses Apple typically makes more margin than the dev does. It would be like paying the IRS 30% tax off your gross business profit without being able to make any expense deductions. Absolutely absurd.

 

[surferfb]

Apple is not anti steering. They simply aren’t wanting corporations to use their access to customers to market their product.

Same way you don’t go into Wendy’s advertising McDonalds.

I’m very sympathetic to Apple when it comes to the DMA - it’s a terrible, terrible law that most people support because they think it’s only about opening up the App Store and don’t realize it’s actually dooming the EU to never have up-to-date technology.

But I have no problem with Spotify being able to tell users “you can sign up in our website” in their app. Yes, if every app did this user experience would be terrible, which is a part as to why Apple has forbidden it (the other part is clearly money), and scam apps are definitely going to take advantage, but not being able to openly communicate with your customers is a bridge too far.

And for what it’s worth - I fully support Spotify not being able to link out if they don’t want to pay Apple a commission. Can’t have your cake and eat it too. While i support their ability to tell their customers where to sign up, Spotify are a bunch of freeloaders who are getting their government to steal Apple’s IP for their benefit.

 

[schlitzz]

Hmmm. That’s a long time to battle. Could’ve just spent the money on R&D, made their own phone, carrier agreements, and storefronts to sell THEIR stuff.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

"Spotify is still not able to let users click a lick to make purchases from outside the App Store"

Clicking a lick? Sounds moist.

It’s a secret iOS command, along with “drag n droop,” but I’m afraid I’ve said too much already.

 

[bcortens]

Hmmm. That’s a long time to battle. Could’ve just spent the money on R&D, made their own phone, carrier agreements, and storefronts to sell THEIR stuff.

You can't seriously believe the money spent on this legal case could have built a phone?

 

[schlitzz]

I expect a company like Tampax to sue Apple next. Word is they’re developing an applicator. You hold the phone up to your right ear, and press the # key. The problem, is getting the case manufactured, and determining capacity.

 

[johkg]

Apple is not anti steering. They simply aren’t wanting corporations to use their access to customers to market their product.

Same way you don’t go into Wendy’s advertising McDonalds.

It's like I'm selling my product in Costco and I put a sign next to it saying hey btw don't buy it in Costco come to my store and buy from me instead.

 

[Luap]

And Apple will still make tens of billions in profit every quarter.

And Spotify will still pay artists pocket change.