Spotify launched its audiobook enterprise simply final month with 300,000 titles, however is now saying that Apple is participating in “anticompetitive” conduct that’s impinging the brand new enterprise, the corporate wrote in a blog post. It mentioned that Apple rejected its audiobook buying system 3 times resulting from a violation of its guidelines. To comply, it needed to cover the value of the audiobooks and do gross sales exterior of the principle app by way of an electronic mail hyperlink.
All of that makes it tougher for Spotify to compete, as customers cannot simply examine costs. “[This] harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apple’s thumb.” It’s additionally extremely inconvenient for patrons used to easily clicking on a hyperlink to purchase an audiobook.
Spotify’s audiobooks might have simply been accepted if the corporate had adopted the App Store guidelines, Apple instructed The New York Times. “We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance,” an Apple spokesperson mentioned.
Spotify might even have offered its audiobooks by the App Store’s buying system, however Apple would then take a 30 p.c lower — placing Spotify’s audiobooks at a substantial drawback in opposition to Apple Books. “With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors,” mentioned Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.
Spotify is already in a battle with Apple over music subscriptions, having mentioned that its 30 p.c fee harms customers. The European Commission issued Apple with a Statement of Objections after concluding that Apple was in attainable breach of EU legal guidelines, however has but to disclose a last verdict. “Almost four years. That’s how long it’s been since Spotify filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, and we are still waiting on a decision,” mentioned Ek.
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