A group of European tech companies have asked EU regulators to put a stop to what they see as anti-competitive practices from companies like Apple and Amazon. According to a report in the Financial Times, “Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek and Deezer chief executive Hans-Holger Albrecht called on Brussels to ensure ‘a level playing field’ by reining in platforms that are ‘regularly abusing their advantaged position’.”
Spotify and Deezer are upset that Apple takes a 30 percent cut of the subscription fee when people sign up for its service through Apple’s App Store, even as Apple offers a competing music service of its own. The European Commission is preparing new regulations that will govern how big tech companies interact with the developers and merchants who rely on their platforms.
In June, EU regulators levied a record €2.4 billion fine against Google for demoting rivals and unfairly promoting its own services. Europe’s premier music services are clearly hoping that lawmakers in Brussels might bring a similarly aggressive approach to platforms run by other American tech titans.
The letter sent to the commission, which was also signed by a number of European game developers and digital publishers, asked that any new rules “go beyond mere transparency requirements, which alone will not ensure platforms act as gateways rather than become gatekeepers to the digital economy.”
Full Content: Financial Times
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