Even after Apple was fined $2 billion by the European Union over Spotify’s years-long complaints about its App Store policies, Spotify says Apple is rejecting updates issued in compliance with that same ruling. In an email to the European Commission that he received The VergeSpotify writes that Apple has “neither confirmed nor responded to Spotify’s submission” to enter subscription pricing data into the app, preventing it from updating the app for its users at all, even releasing bug fixes or adding other features.
On March 5, Spotify submitted an update to Apple that puts links to Spotify’s website, along with pricing information for various subscription options, directly into the EU version of its app, without using Apple’s payment system. Spotify made the change in response to a ruling issued a day earlier by the European Commission, which said Apple’s anti-policing rules were “illegal” and ordered Apple to start allowing developers to include information about “alternative and cheaper music subscription services”.
Apple responded to the decision on March 4, saying it would appeal, and highlighted a list of “ways Apple creates value for Spotify, at no cost to its company,” which coincidentally included this bullet point:
Our app review team has reviewed and approved 421 versions of the Spotify app — usually with same-day processing — and often expedites reviews at Spotify’s request.
In the email, Spotify says it hasn’t heard back from Apple since sending out the update.
The company writes that this is “yet another example of how Apple, if left unchecked, will seek to circumvent and/or fail to comply with the Commission’s decision.” It also calls on the European Commission to contact Apple and demand that it approve Spotify’s changes. “Given Apple’s track record, Spotify is concerned that Apple’s delay is intentional and is intended to delay or avoid compliance altogether,” the email said.
“It’s been nine days, and we’re still waiting for Apple to hear from us about our app that will show EU consumers prices and a link to our website, which we’re now authorized to do by the European Commission’s decision on music streaming,” he says. Spotify spokeswoman Jeanne Moran said in an emailed statement The Verge. “Apple’s delay directly contradicts its claim to return app reviews within 24 hours, and also contradicts the adoption timeline set by the Commission.”
Apple had no comment in response to a request from The Verge.