Jaspreet Singh
(Reuters) – A group representing audio streaming companies including Spotify (NYSE:) and France’s Deezer in Europe has called on the European Commission to reject Apple’s (NASDAQ:) proposal in a music streaming case.
Digital Music Europe, in a letter sent to the European Commission on Tuesday, expressed concern that Apple’s proposal to comply with the regulator’s March order that fined the iPhone maker 1.84 billion euros ($1.98 billion) did not provide specific and effective remedies.
“Apple’s new rights to music streaming services is a discriminatory program that forces competitors to agree to a new regime governed by Apple,” the letter said.
In March, the EU fined Apple for preventing competition from music streaming rivals through restrictions on its App Store.
The iPhone maker subsequently announced measures to make it easier for music streaming apps on its App Store in the European Economic Area to inform users of other ways to purchase digital services as it seeks to comply with a European Union mandate.
Under Apple’s proposal, streaming services could include links on their websites to inform users of payment options outside the App Store, and the company would charge a 27% commission on transactions made through the link.
Apple said developers can provide users with information about purchases available on their website also via email.
The European Commission and firms represented by Digital Music Europe, including Deezer, Qobuz and SoundCloud, Jamendo and Soundcharts, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Spotify declined to comment.
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Last month, Apple rejected a new version of Spotify’s iOS app with in-app pricing information for users in the European Union because the streaming company did not want to participate in Apple’s proposal.
($1 = 0.9310 euros)