According to recent leaks, the European Union, after lengthy legal investigations, is poised to issue a ruling against Apple this time! The company could face a hefty fine of a whopping $500 million. According to the court decision, expected to be announced next month, Apple has been found unjust for significantly restricting access to music services for users in European Union member countries, attempting monopolization.
Apple could be helpless against the European Union’s decision
Apple, found by the European Union judiciary to have substantially favored its own music service provider over existing competitors, will have to pay the price. The lawsuit began in 2019 as a result of Spotify’s reaction to Apple. Since then, the company, which has been in a fierce battle over this issue, accusing Apple’s management with very serious allegations, seems to finally get what it wants
The European Union alleges that Apple deprived users of access to cheaper music listening applications and ultimately caused financial loss to iOS users for its own benefit. The company, found to directly violate antitrust laws, is also accused of using its strong position to surpass rival companies with unlawful methods.
The hefty fine of $500 million will be one of the largest penalties technology companies have paid across Europe in history. However, in 2020, the company was also fined $372 million for violating competition laws. This decision seems to further escalate the tension between the European Union administration and American tech giants. Whether users will actually benefit from this remains to be seen.
What do you think about this topic? Do you think the European Union’s strategy is correct? What should Apple do? You can easily share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Your opinions are valuable to us.