March 29, 2024
Apple Fires Back at Spotify: "You Want Special Treatment"

Apple Fires Back at Spotify: "You Want Special Treatment"

Posted July 1, 2016 at 6:51pm by iClarified
Apple has written a letter to Spotify slamming the company for its public criticism of App Store policies and accusing the company of demanding special treatment.

Obtained by BuzzFeed, here is the full letter from Apple's General Counsel Bruce Sewell to Spotify's General Counsel Horacio Gutierrez.

Apple Fires Back at Spotify: "You Want Special Treatment"


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Dear Horacio,

Thank you for your letter. As a valued developer in the App Store, we're disappointed with the public attacks you've made and appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight.

There can be no doubt that Spotify has benefited enormously from its association with Apple's App Store. Since joining the App Store in 2009, Apple's platform has provided you with over 160 million downloads of your app, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in incremental revenue to Spotify. That's why we find it troubling that you are asking for exemptions to the rules we apply to all developers, and are publicly resorting to rumors and half-truths about our service.

Our guidelines help competition, not hurt it. The fact that we compete has never influenced how Apple treats Spotify or other successful competitors like Google Play Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, Pandora or the numerous other apps on the App Store that distribute digital music.


We have always believed that competition makes us all better. It drives the best products and services for our customers. We've invested a tremendous amount so developers have the best ecosystem for creating and distributing apps. You know this because Spotify has profited greatly from your use of the App Store we developed.

Our investment in the App Store is not trivial — any great retailer will tell you there is an incredible amount of effort that goes into maintaining their store. However, if a customer chooses to sign up for a digital product outside of the App Store the developer does not pay us anything, and their content will still work on Apple devices. To imply that Spotify should not have to pay to avail itself of the benefits of Apple's hard work, just as every other developer does, would give you a tremendous advantage over other developers. It's simply unfair and unreasonable.

Our guidelines apply equally to all app developers, whether they are game developers, e-book sellers, video-streaming services or digital music distributors; and regardless of whether or not they compete against Apple. We did not alter our behavior or our rules when we introduced our own music streaming service or when Spotify became a competitor. Ironically, it is now Spotify that wants things to be different by asking for preferential treatment from Apple — in essence arguing that because we compete Spotify should be treated differently, given waivers and exemptions from the rules that pertain to all other developers on the App Store. We disagree.

Apple introduced the in-app purchase feature in the App Store to provide an easy, seamless and secure way for customers to purchase content. The feature also benefits developers by allowing them to more easily monetize their apps through easier customer acquisition. Thousands of app developers have taken advantage of the in-app purchase feature, including Spotify. And ever since the in-app purchase feature was made available, App Store rules have prohibited developers from redirecting customers inside of an app to purchase digital content or subscriptions outside of the app to avoid paying Apple's standard commission.

We just recently introduced a new revenue split for subscriptions designed to help all developers keep even more of their service revenue stream. Within a subscriber's first year, the traditional 70/30 split applies, but after a year of paid service with a subscription, an 85/15 share split kicks in. All current subscriptions are eligible — if developers have subscribers they have already retained for over a year, the 85/15 split starts immediately.

Our team has been incredibly responsive. Shortly after Spotify submitted its app on May 26, our team identified a number of issues, including that the in-app purchase feature had been removed and replaced with an account sign-up feature clearly intended to circumvent Apple's in-app purchase rules. That feature exists only for the purpose of avoiding having to pay Apple for your use of the App Store by emailing customers within hours, directing them to subscribe to Spotify on its website. A clear violation of the terms every other developer adheres to. During a number of discussions between our team and Spotify, we explained why this sign-up feature did not comply with our guidelines and requested you resubmit a compliant version of the app. On June 10, Spotify submitted another version of the app which again incorporated the sign-up feature directing App Store customers to submit an email address so they could be contacted directly by Spotify in a continued attempt to get around our guidelines. Spotify's app was again rejected for attempting to circumvent in-app purchase rules, and not, as you claim, because Spotify was simply seeking to communicate with its customers.

As far as l can see the Spotify App currently up on the App Store is still in violation of our guidelines. I would be happy to facilitate an expeditious review and approval of your app as soon as you provide us with something that is compliant with the App Store's rules.

There is nothing in Apple's conduct that "amounts to a violation of applicable antitrust laws." Far from it. Apple has continued to innovate with lower pricing for our customers, and a new revenue share model for the developers that have helped make us so successful. We understand you want special treatment and protections from competition, but we simply will not do that because we firmly adhere to the principle of treating all developers fairly and equitably.

Kind Regards,
Bruce Sewell
General Counsel
Apple Inc.
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What do you think? Should Apple be allowed to take a never ending cut of subscription fees for users who have signed up via an iOS app or should a different service fee model be established.

Let us know in the comments!

[via BuzzFeed]


Apple Fires Back at Spotify: "You Want Special Treatment"

Apple Fires Back at Spotify: "You Want Special Treatment"

Apple Fires Back at Spotify: "You Want Special Treatment"
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Comments (12)
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JuergenWest
JuergenWest - July 6, 2016 at 6:49am
Do not bite the hand that feeds. Spotify needs Apple but Apple doesn't need Spotify. Hope they realise their bluff was called.
Vinnie
Vinnie - July 5, 2016 at 5:52pm
Is Spotify crazy? They have access to millions of devices, if they want to continue to supply iPhones with the app then yes, nothing is free... How about they write their internet provider and tell them it's unfair for them to pay the bill because they don't ever use the Internet. You access to the Internet so pay the bill! Simple as that. I don't think it's unfair for Apple to charge a commission. No one else who has an App Store does it for free, why should Apple. Business is Business.
VaRGo
VaRGo - July 5, 2016 at 10:07am
It's Apple Store, they can charge whatever they want .. If Spotify don't like that they should go somewhere else.
Adam
Adam - July 2, 2016 at 8:03am
Yeah but Apple apps do not have to share profits, so they are at an advantage.
Star
Star - July 3, 2016 at 4:47am
They pay there employees to maintain the store. Bet that costs. Then they host the app, support the phones to keep them running etc. lots of cost
King Rollo
King Rollo - July 2, 2016 at 7:27am
That told them. It's a rule break it and you get kicked. Tough luck Spotify!
AverageReviewer
AverageReviewer - July 2, 2016 at 2:02am
If it weren't for Apple, Spotify would be limited to Android and would result in considerably less revenue for Spotify, Apple absolutely deserves their cut.
clown
clown - July 2, 2016 at 1:22am
Maybe the should patent some more ideas from people who made them to use with jailbreak. Maybe why they left the kernal unlocked to get more idea and then patent them as their own.
Vinnie
Vinnie - July 5, 2016 at 5:53pm
Troll!!! Lmao
clown
clown - July 2, 2016 at 1:20am
Who is to say after the first year of profit sharing they even have to let the app back after one year.
SayingWhatEveryonesThinking
SayingWhatEveryonesThinking - July 2, 2016 at 12:00am
I see both sides of this argument. Apple should take less, and Spotify should play by the rules they've agreed to. Subscription money should go to the service. Apple should stop collecting high fees and raising prices to fund the purchase of stupid companies like Beats.
Star
Star - July 2, 2016 at 4:29am
Did you even read the article?
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