The European Union on Monday (March 4) hit iPhone maker Apple with an antitrust fine of over 1.8 billion euros ($1.95 billion) for preventing music streaming services like Spotify from informing users about payment options outside its App Store.

The European Commission said it "found that Apple applied restrictions on app developers preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app".

"This is illegal under EU antitrust rules," the EU's powerful antitrust regulator said.

"Apple's conduct, which lasted for almost ten years, may have led many iOS users to pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions because of the high commission fee imposed by Apple on developers and passed on to consumers," it further added.

Swedish music streaming service Spotify lodged a complaint in the year 2019 which triggered a broad commission probe into the firm in 2021. However, Brussels narrowed its investigation last year to focus more on Apple's actions of barring applications from providing users with information about rival music subscription options.

"For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store," Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

"We have ordered Apple to remove the necessary provisions and to refrain from similar practices in the future," Vestager told reporters.

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<h2>Apple says will appeal penalty</h2>

Apple released a statement slamming the EU's decision and said that it would appeal the penalty.

"The decision was reached despite the Commission's failure to uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm, and ignores the realities of a market that is thriving, competitive, and growing fast," Apple said in a statement.

"While we respect the European Commission, the facts simply don't support this decision. And as a result, Apple will appeal," the company added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union on Monday (March 4) hit iPhone maker Apple with an antitrust fine of over 1.8 billion euros ($1.95 billion) for preventing music streaming services like Spotify from informing users about payment options outside its App Store.

The European Union on Monday (March 4) hit iPhone maker Apple with an antitrust fine of over 1.8 billion euros ($1.95 billion) for preventing music streaming services like Spotify from informing users about payment options outside its App Store. The European Commission said it "found that Apple applied restrictions on app developers preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app". "This is illegal under EU antitrust rules," the EU's powerful antitrust regulator said. "Apple's conduct, which lasted for almost ten years, may have led many iOS users to pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions because of the high commission fee imposed by Apple on developers and passed on to consumers," it further added. Swedish music streaming service Spotify lodged a complaint in the year 2019 which triggered a broad commission probe into the firm in 2021. However, Brussels narrowed its investigation last year to focus more on Apple's actions of barring applications from providing users with information about rival music subscription options. "For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store," Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. "We have ordered Apple to remove the necessary provisions and to refrain from similar practices in the future," Vestager told reporters. Also read: Google sorry over 'unreliable' platform Gemini after remarks on PM Modi Apple says will appeal penalty Apple released a statement slamming the EU's decision and said that it would appeal the penalty. "The decision was reached despite the Commission's failure to uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm, and ignores the realities of a market that is thriving, competitive, and growing fast," Apple said in a statement. "While we respect the European Commission, the facts simply don't support this decision. And as a result, Apple will appeal," the company added. (With inputs from agencies)

EU hits Apple with 1.8 billion euro antitrust fine, firm says will appeal penalty

A top European Union court on Wednesday annulled a nearly one-billion-euro antitrust fine imposed against US chipmaking giant Qualcomm by the European Commission in 2018.

The General Court decided to scrap Brussels' decision "in its entirety" as it "committed a number of irregularities" when it put the case together, affecting Qualcomm's rights of defence.&nbsp;

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It also said it decided to "invalidate the Commission's analysis of the conduct alleged against Qualcomm."

Brussels imposed the 997-million-euro fine, amounting to $1.2 billion at the time, saying the company "abused its market dominance" by paying Apple to use its chips exclusively in iPhones and iPads.

The EU court ruled that the Commission failed to fully respect its obligation to record meetings and conference calls with third parties in the investigation.

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It added that Qualcomm was not given the "opportunity to be heard" after the Commission modified its objections against the US company.

The Luxembourg-based court also rejected the Commission's case against Qualcomm.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in 2018 that Qualcomm had paid billions of dollars to Apple between 2011 and 2016 in order to prevent the iPhone maker from buying chips from rivals.

But the court said that it was apparent from the Commission's decisions that Apple "had had no technical alternative to Qualcomm's Long Term Evolution (LTE)&nbsp;chipsets for the majority of its requirements during the period concerned".

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"The General Court concludes that the Commission's analysis was not carried out in the light of all the relevant factual circumstances and that it is, therefore, unlawful," it said.

The European Commission can appeal the ruling to the European Court of Justice.

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A top European Union court on Wednesday annulled a nearly one-billion-euro antitrust fine imposed against US chipmaking giant Qualcomm by the European Commission in 2018.

A top European Union court on Wednesday annulled a nearly one-billion-euro antitrust fine imposed against US chipmaking giant Qualcomm by the European Commission in 2018. The General Court decided to scrap Brussels' decision "in its entirety" as it "committed a number of irregularities" when it put the case together, affecting Qualcomm's rights of defence. Also read | EU takes legal action against UK for breaching N.Ireland agreement It also said it decided to "invalidate the Commission's analysis of the conduct alleged against Qualcomm." Brussels imposed the 997-million-euro fine, amounting to $1.2 billion at the time, saying the company "abused its market dominance" by paying Apple to use its chips exclusively in iPhones and iPads. The EU court ruled that the Commission failed to fully respect its obligation to record meetings and conference calls with third parties in the investigation. Watch | 'Want to reduce dependence on Russia,' European Union turns to Israel for gas supply It added that Qualcomm was not given the "opportunity to be heard" after the Commission modified its objections against the US company. The Luxembourg-based court also rejected the Commission's case against Qualcomm. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in 2018 that Qualcomm had paid billions of dollars to Apple between 2011 and 2016 in order to prevent the iPhone maker from buying chips from rivals. But the court said that it was apparent from the Commission's decisions that Apple "had had no technical alternative to Qualcomm's Long Term Evolution (LTE) chipsets for the majority of its requirements during the period concerned". Also read | Rwanda deportations: Will UK ditch European rights pact? Priti Patel says preparing for the next flight "The General Court concludes that the Commission's analysis was not carried out in the light of all the relevant factual circumstances and that it is, therefore, unlawful," it said. The European Commission can appeal the ruling to the European Court of Justice. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

European Union court annuls Qualcomm's billion-euro antitrust fine

The EU's antitrust authority on Thursday fined German auto giants Volkswagen and&nbsp;BMW&nbsp;875 million euros for colluding on the development of anti-pollution technology for diesel cars.

Launched after anti-cartel raids in 2017, the case marked yet another blow against the German auto-making sector, which was rocked by the devastating "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal that broke in 2015.&nbsp;

The case found that while the car giants had not formed a formal cartel, they had made illegal agreements to limit the introduction of "AdBlue" or urea to diesel engine exhaust gases, reducing its effectiveness as a way to produce cleaner emissions.

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Daimler, which alerted the European Commission to the issue, was spared a fine.

"Today's case is about how legitimate cooperation has gone wrong. Carmakers had developed a very good technology, but decided not to compete to exploit it to its full potential," EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager told reporters.

"Instead, they decided to collude by indicating to each other that none of them would aim at cleaning above the minimum standards required by law," Vestager added.

Volkswagen's admission to manipulating 11 million vehicles worldwide to appear less polluting unleashed a wave of anger at the auto industry, and Brussels launched an in-depth cartel investigation into the three companies.

In a statement,&nbsp;BMW&nbsp;stressed that the EU had dropped earlier allegations that the auto giants colluded on putting off cleaner particulate filters for petrol cars.

It also accused the European Commission of entering "uncharted territory for antitrust law" with its decision as it had failed to prove the existence of a price-fixing cartel but inflicted fines in any case.

The commission's biggest-ever fine of 2.93 billion euros was handed to Europe's top truck makers,&nbsp;including Daimler, in 2016 for colluding over 14 years to fix prices and dodge the costs of stricter pollution rules.

The EU's antitrust authority on Thursday fined German auto giants Volkswagen and BMW 875 million euros for colluding on the development of anti-pollution technology for diesel cars.

The EU's antitrust authority on Thursday fined German auto giants Volkswagen and BMW 875 million euros for colluding on the development of anti-pollution technology for diesel cars. Launched after anti-cartel raids in 2017, the case marked yet another blow against the German auto-making sector, which was rocked by the devastating "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal that broke in 2015. The case found that while the car giants had not formed a formal cartel, they had made illegal agreements to limit the introduction of "AdBlue" or urea to diesel engine exhaust gases, reducing its effectiveness as a way to produce cleaner emissions. Also read | BMW faces US lawsuit claiming emissions cheating Daimler, which alerted the European Commission to the issue, was spared a fine. "Today's case is about how legitimate cooperation has gone wrong. Carmakers had developed a very good technology, but decided not to compete to exploit it to its full potential," EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager told reporters. "Instead, they decided to collude by indicating to each other that none of them would aim at cleaning above the minimum standards required by law," Vestager added. Volkswagen's admission to manipulating 11 million vehicles worldwide to appear less polluting unleashed a wave of anger at the auto industry, and Brussels launched an in-depth cartel investigation into the three companies. In a statement, BMW stressed that the EU had dropped earlier allegations that the auto giants colluded on putting off cleaner particulate filters for petrol cars. It also accused the European Commission of entering "uncharted territory for antitrust law" with its decision as it had failed to prove the existence of a price-fixing cartel but inflicted fines in any case. The commission's biggest-ever fine of 2.93 billion euros was handed to Europe's top truck makers, including Daimler, in 2016 for colluding over 14 years to fix prices and dodge the costs of stricter pollution rules.

EU slaps VW, BMW with 875-million-euro antitrust fine

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