Apple responds to Spotify's complaints in an acerbic rant

15 March 2019
Two days after Spotify filed a complaint against Apple for unfair practices, the latter fires back in an uncharacteristically cranky manner.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 81X
  • 19 Mar 2019

Anonymous, 16 Mar 2019They do not have a point, the user has already paid for the... moreIf your credit card provider can charge a transaction fee of the seller for their payment processing service, so can Apple. If anyone thinks that's going to be overturned anytime soon, they're dreaming. An online store has a choice about which payment methods it will accept, thus so too must Apple.

Spotify developers had a choice of supporting in-app payments or not. They chose to, understanding Apple's 30/15 terms. They've been offering it for 10 years, suddenly they have a problem with the arrangement because Apple launched a music service.

    • L
    • Lorenzitto
    • anG
    • 19 Mar 2019

    Everyone is ready to see apple smashed again by "european" commission with millions or billions in fines plus legal expenses? Hope so.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • gLN
      • 18 Mar 2019

      just remove the app from the store for apple. make a good web/cloud based system to be used instead , and then everything is outside of apples control.

        I like the fact how most people who haven't made an Apple transaction or own an Apple device ever are blaming Apple. It's not like a new thing to pay the tax. It has been going on for years. Spotify is just playing the victim card here. Trying to gain sympathy from the people is fine, but a company should be confident too when trying to file a lawsuit against other corporations. I love Spotify for their music, but as a company, ethical morals are not up to the mark. (I mean who makes a video to rant! Pure Cringe)

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • rJx
          • 18 Mar 2019

          s-pen pusher, 18 Mar 2019it is definitely the same with android, so spotify should a... moreI am a Netflix subscriber, which is used on an iOS and an Android phone (plus 2 TVs). I just scanned the news, and there is no dispute between Google and Netflix over payments despite the fact that Netflix providrs users the option to pay both inside and outside the app in 2016. I for one, pay outside the app.

          https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.engadget.com/amp/2016/04/27/netflix-google-play-billing-android/

            • C
            • Caual User
            • fJy
            • 18 Mar 2019

            Well, I used spotify in the past and it was great but the recurring fee is just not worth it. Also hearing those rumors about spotify's treatment to new artists made my decision right to not use their service. I personally prefer owning a CD or buying a certain song then uploading it to my device rather than just "Renting" the song/album.

              Shade was hella thrown

                • s
                • s-pen pusher
                • PMT
                • 18 Mar 2019

                dude111, 16 Mar 2019"If I pay Spotify on their website, it is a transaction bet... moreit is definitely the same with android, so spotify should also file a complaint against google. spotify is just going after apple because google's own music streaming services- google play music and youtube music are not that big of a threat.

                  Anonymous, 17 Mar 2019So Spotify want to advertise through an App Store app that ... more>So Spotify want to advertise through an App Store app that you can buy a subscription
                  >outside the App Store in order for them to get more profits. Wat??

                  Yes. Outside of the Walled Garden, people aren't forced to use a payment service or store.

                  >As someone said below, itÂ’s like an ebay seller wants to be allowed to inform potential
                  >buyers that they can pay through a different service outside ebay, thus avoiding ebayÂ’s
                  >policies and rules. Spotify is greedy and wrong here.

                  No, it's not like that at all. It's like a giant wall was built around your city and someone set up a gate at the only entrance. They declare that anyone selling anything to anyone inside has to pay them 30% of the revenue or they're not getting inside to sell to anyone.

                  No one is forced to use eBay to sell goods. People who want to sell apps to iPhone users are forced to use the App Store. Developers are forced to pay Apple $99 a year to use the store. iOS Apps must be signed using software that only runs on OS X so interested App developers must buy Apple hardware too. On the Android platform I can download development software for free and give my software to whomever I want (say, my best friends). iPhone users aren't allowed to install software on their own phones! There is an exception, but only for large corporations. That's crazy. Imagine owning a desktop PC and not being allowed to install your own software on it.

                  >And because Apple introduced their own music service, does Spotify now want Apple to...
                  >increase their own prices by 30%? Or to allow Spotify to trade for free?

                  Yes and yes. Otherwise it's a monopoly and unfair competition. Unfairness hurts end users. In capitalism the playing field is leveled and the best product wins, which results in better products and lower prices for customers. By essentially forcing everyone except itself to raise their prices 30%, Apple guarantees it wins whether it's the best product or not.

                  >So if I own a shopping mall and I open up my own shop there as well, should I then stop taxing
                  >other similar shops in my mall?

                  You're a fool if you do this. Owning a shopping mall and selling in it at the same time is competing with your own customers. No one's going to want to rent a store in your mall. The difference with Apple, as pointed out in the story, is that there are no other stores in The Walled Garden.

                    • H
                    • H-1
                    • aja
                    • 17 Mar 2019

                    Anonymous, 16 Mar 2019Asking an for a cut on purchases / payments made through t... moreAmen to that! That's the best way to put it...thanks :)

                      When elephants fight, its the grass that suffers.

                      Anyways, I am not a big Apple fan, but Spotify has been misusing its dominant position for a while now. Especially against smaller artists. It's time its replacement is found. And quick.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • rJx
                        • 17 Mar 2019

                        Anonymous, 17 Mar 2019So Spotify want to advertise through an App Store app that ... moreThe user owns the so called shopping mall. It is the user's phone maintained by Apple (in terms if software updates). Apple already got paid once by the user.

                        Even so, if payments were made through the app store, it could make sense for Apple to get a cut on that piece. Apple asking for a cut over outside transaction amounts to them acting like a 'landlord' of the phone.

                        I think the best way forward would be to stop providing an actual link to the payment gateway and just say: please visit our website to subscribe.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • m%5
                          • 17 Mar 2019

                          So Spotify want to advertise through an App Store app that you can buy a subscription outside the App Store in order for them to get more profits. Wat?? As someone said below, it’s like an ebay seller wants to be allowed to inform potential buyers that they can pay through a different service outside ebay, thus avoiding ebay’s policies and rules. Spotify is greedy and wrong here.

                          And because Apple introduced their own music service, does Spotify now want Apple to... increase their own prices by 30%? Or to allow Spotify to trade for free?

                          So if I own a shopping mall and I open up my own shop there as well, should I then stop taxing other similar shops in my mall?

                          Spotify makes no sense in their requests and cries whatsoever.

                            Spotify gots this one in the bag.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • rJx
                              • 17 Mar 2019

                              g6 user, 17 Mar 2019I hear from some one that spotify only allows you to make ... moreThat is digressing from the topic, IMO. This news story is not about vices and virtues of Spotify, but about Apple being *illogical* and heavy handed.

                                • g
                                • g6 user
                                • LEi
                                • 17 Mar 2019

                                I hear from some one that spotify only allows you to make money and get it if you are a renamed singer or writer other wise you can have your songs and everything there but you wont get the money until you become some one... hahaha and the money made trough their paly - back system ... where is it.... with singer/ writer.... no.... with beloved spotify yeah .....

                                  Anonymous, 16 Mar 2019Asking an for a cut on purchases / payments made through t... more"If I pay Spotify on their website, it is a transaction between me and Spotify, delivered through my phone which I already paid Apple for, and hence own."

                                  YOU CAN DO THAT. With Netflix, Crunchyroll or any other subscription model.

                                  Apple just dont allow Spotify to put a link to their webside inside the iOS app. But you can always pay outside and use your subscription on the iOS app. Its the same on android i believe.

                                    Anonymous, 16 Mar 2019Keep in mind that ALL these developers that supported the p... moreIts both ways.

                                    Without the App Store (and iphone in general) those developers wouldnt have that much exposure. You want to sell it outside like Epic on android? You will need to invest on publicity to reach more people or be lost in the sea of webs and competitors, pay for servers, security for the payments or i dont know.

                                    Spotify is, basically Apple. They are an intermediary between the artist and the users, and i dont see them lowering their "fees or cut" to the labels/distributors/artist. And the labels are another intermediary....

                                    Spotify can yell all they want, but they are the same. Someone wants to be on spotify? Stick to their terms and conditions, otherwise you are out.
                                    Want to be on the App Store stick to their policies.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • n}%
                                      • 16 Mar 2019

                                      Hope the complaint is approved and Apple will get punished for their greed.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • rJx
                                        • 16 Mar 2019

                                        H-1, 16 Mar 2019Always fun to have anons coming in to bash people :) Pro... moreThey do not have a point, the user has already paid for the phone, and it is not 'Apple's' phone the streaming is running on. They could have charged a cut on the payment had the payment been through the app store.

                                        Giving a cut to Apple for payment *I* (a user) am making for a data stream (songs) I would be receiving on *my* phone amounts to Apple assuming a governmental role (like taxation of private transations).

                                        They are attempting this because they think the have enough of a hold on users to get away with it.