Spotify's App Store icon (left), Apple Music (right)
Apple has filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Justice over the EU's decision to fine Apple for this Apple music's alleged unfair competitive practices against Spotify.
In March 2024the European Union has fined Apple $1.8 billion for what it called an antitrust violation. Specifically, it said Apple prevented users from being notified of “alternative, lower-cost music services available outside the Apple ecosystem.”
However, the accusation ignored the fact that Spotify has more than twice as much market share as Apple Music, despite this allegedly preventing users from knowing about it. Now according to BloombergApple has his case accepted at the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg.
Apple had already announced that it would appeal and has made no further comment. However, Apple previously claimed that the fine was imposed “despite the Commission's failure to uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm, and ignoring the reality of a market that is thriving, competitive and growing rapidly.”
“The leading advocate for this decision – and the biggest beneficiary – is Spotify, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden,” Apple continued. “Today, Spotify has a 56 percent share of the European music streaming market – more than double that of their nearest competitor – and Apple pays nothing for the services that have made them one of the most recognizable brands in the world have become.”