Apple Facing EU Fine for Hindering Streaming Music Competition

Apple Facing EU , Fine for Hindering , Streaming Music Competition.<br />On March 4, the European Union filed its first antitrust <br />penalty aimed at Apple, fining the tech giant almost <br />$2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service.<br />On March 4, the European Union filed its first antitrust <br />penalty aimed at Apple, fining the tech giant almost <br />$2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service.<br />According to regulators, Apple forbid streaming <br />music rivals from informing users that cheaper <br />subscription options available on their websites.<br />According to regulators, Apple forbid streaming <br />music rivals from informing users that cheaper <br />subscription options available on their websites.<br />Those options would allow users to <br />avoid a 30% fee charged when people <br />pay through the iOS App Store app. .<br />This is illegal. And it has <br />impacted millions of European <br />consumers who were not able to <br />make a free choice as to where, <br />how and at what price to buy <br />music streaming subscriptions, Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission's <br />competition commissioner, via NPR.<br />Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition <br />commissioner, said the practice has resulted in , "millions of people who have paid two, three euros <br />more per month for their music streaming service <br />than they would otherwise have had to pay.".<br />NPR reports that the EU Commission <br />decision comes the same week as new <br />rules take effect aimed at preventing tech <br />companies from cornering digital markets.<br />Apple said the it would appeal <br />the commission's decision to <br />levy a fine against the company. .<br />The decision was reached despite <br />the Commission's failure to uncover<br />any credible evidence of consumer <br />harm, and ignores the realities <br />of a market that is thriving, <br />competitive, and growing fast, Apple statement, via NPR.<br />Apple added that the EU decision benefits Spotify, <br />which is based in Sweden and currently holds <br />a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market.<br />Apple added that the EU decision benefits Spotify, <br />which is based in Sweden and currently holds <br />a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market.<br />Ironically, in the name of <br />competition, today's decision <br />just cements the dominant <br />position of a successful European <br />company that is the digital <br />music market's runaway leader, Apple statement, via NPR