“Spotify has previously talked about an upgraded app for the iPhone with the option to shop in the app. Now it’s still not happening,” we reported in March.
Spotify tries to dodge Apple’s new “EU taxes”
The war between the two has been going on for so many years that it is difficult to keep track, but the hope was that the parties would come to, at least partial agreement, when the EU’s DMA Act was activated. It hasn’t happened. For Apple said no to Spotify’s app update for the iPhone, because the Swedish streaming service has not accepted Apple’s “Music Streaming Services Entitlement.”
What Spotify did was to send an updated app to Apple that does not include links to buy subscriptions, and only mentions the minimum in relation to prices and that you can buy directly from Spotify. Spotify believes this is more than enough, and they do because they don’t want to pay Apple up to 27 percent (3 percent less than on the App Store) – they have to for “all website purchases referred by Apple,” as explained by MacRumors.
This was answered by Apple’s App Store team Spotify:
“We are contacting you to inform you of new information about your app, Spotify – Music and Podcasts, version 8.9.33. As you may be aware, Apple created a new Music Streaming Services (EEA) entitlement for iOS and iPadOS music streaming apps offered in EEA storefronts. The right allows music streaming apps to use buttons, external links or other calls to action to direct customers to a purchase mechanism on a website owned or controlled by the developer. You must agree to the terms before adding any of these features to your app.
We note that your current submission includes an invitation to purchase a Spotify subscription on your website. As such, you must agree to the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) terms and include the entitlement profile in your app for submission. To be clear, this right is required even if your app does not contain an external link (nor does it require you to provide an external link). However, we will approve version 8.9.33 after you agree to the music streaming rights (EEA) terms and resubmit it for review.”
