Apple protests $2 billion fine from European Union

Apple said it would appeal a $2 billion fine imposed by the European Commission after Spotify filed a complaint accusing Apple of anti-competitive behavior. This is the first time Apple has been punished for violating EU antitrust rules.

The tech giant has now taken the case to the EU General Court in Luxembourg in a bid to overturn the March decision. The General Court could take several years to rule, while an appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, Europe's top court, could drag out the litigation for several more years.

The lawsuit concerns App Store restrictions that Apple imposes to prevent users from accessing rival music streaming services, as well as fees of up to 30% on the App Store.

According to the European Commission, “Apple imposed restrictions on app developers, preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services” outside the Apple ecosystem. Apple also blocked Spotify from informing users about payment options outside the App Store.

Accordingly, Apple's behavior, which has lasted for nearly 10 years, may cause many iOS users to pay significantly higher fees for streaming music subscriptions because of the high commission fees Apple imposes on developers.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, Bloomberg)