Apple Faces Spanish Antitrust Probe Over App Store Practices, Could Face Fine Of 10% Of Global Revenues

Apple has firmly denied these allegations, asserting that all developers, regardless of size, have equal opportunities on its App Store.

Apple expressed its intent to cooperate with the Spanish Competition Authority.

Source : Amin Zabardast/nsplash

Spain's antitrust authority, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC), has initiated an investigation into potential anti-competitive behaviour by Apple concerning its App Store practices. The probe, announced on Wednesday, suggests that Apple might have imposed unfair commercial conditions on developers of mobile applications available on its platform.

As reported by Reuters, the CNMC emphasised that such practices could constitute a serious violation of competition law, potentially resulting in a fine of up to 10 per cent of Apple's global revenues. Apple has firmly denied these allegations, asserting that all developers, regardless of size, have equal opportunities on its App Store.

In a statement, Apple expressed its intent to cooperate with the Spanish Competition Authority to address their concerns, reported Reuters.

Troubled Waters For Apple

This investigation in Spain follows similar scrutiny by the European Commission. The Commission has launched two separate probes into Apple's conduct: one examining potential breaches of the Digital Markets Act, designed to ensure fair competition for smaller firms, and another looking into new fees imposed on app developers. In March, the European Commission fined Apple 1.84 billion euros ($2 billion) for allegedly stifling competition from music streaming services through App Store restrictions, marking Apple's first penalty for violating EU regulations.

Additionally, Apple faces legal challenges in the United States. In May, a US District Judge certified a class action lawsuit against Apple, representing consumers who have spent at least $10 on the app or in-app purchases since 2008. The lawsuit, which began in 2011, accuses Apple of violating antitrust laws by excessively limiting how customers can download apps. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently upheld this class certification, dismissing Apple's appeal without a hearing.