EU Plans to Ban Apple App Store Anti-Steering Rules [Report]

The European Union reportedly plans to ban App Store rules that prevent app developers from directing users to alternative payment methods, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

The EU is purportedly set to take action against Apple following a complaint from Spotify.

EU regulators are putting the finishing touches to a decision on Apple's practice of blocking music services from pushing their users away from the App Store to alternative, cheaper, subscription options, according to people familiar with the investigation. The decision is slated for early next year, they added.


If Apple violates the order it could risk of a potential fine of as much as 10% of its annual sales.

Earlier this year, Spotify urged the EU to make a rapid decision in the competition case against Apple for "illegal, anticompetitive behaviour involving music streaming services".

For years, Apple has imposed unfair restrictions on our businesses. These restrictions hamper our development and harm European consumers. They include the tying of the App Store to Apple's proprietary payment system, with its excessive commissions for app developers; the creation of artificial obstacles that prevent our businesses from freely communicating with our customers restrictions to developers' access to data of their own users; and capricious changes to terms and conditions. Apple benefits from a monopoly position over its mobile ecosystem and extracts exorbitant rents from app developers who have no choice but to remain on the App Store to reach European consumers.

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