Apple has approved a long-delayed Spotify app update following a U.S. federal court ruling that enforced an earlier injunction to curb Apple’s restrictive App Store policies.
According to Spotify, users can now access pricing details, purchase links, and additional payment options within the music-streaming app.
The approval follows a recent U.S. federal judge’s order to Apple to cease collecting commissions on purchases made through web links within iPhone apps.
Apple stated that while it will abide by the court’s order, it will appeal the ruling because it vehemently disagreed with it.
Apple disapproves of Gonzalez Rogers’ court ruling, while Spotify celebrates it
After the approval, Spotify promptly released an updated app in response to the directive. According to a statement from Spotify spokesperson Jeanne Moran, this was a major turning point that allowed the company to publicly display clear pricing information and links for purchases after nearly a decade.
She continued that it was a significant turning point for developers and entrepreneurs worldwide who wanted to create and compete on an even playing field, even though there was still more to be done.
With the update, Spotify users can now view pricing details in the app and details about the company’s promotions and subscriptions. Moreover, users can buy a subscription of their choice and, if they choose, upgrade or modify their plan.
Through a blog post, Spotify stated that the update would allow users to pay using methods other than Apple’s system.
Despite Spotify celebrating the win, Apple said it strongly disagrees with the decision and intends to appeal, even though it will comply with the court’s order.
Interestingly, Spotify is one of the first known apps to get a new update and open up purchases. The new update is listed as the 9.0.40 update in the App Store.
Judge refers Apple to federal prosecutors for defying app store competition order
Earlier, a federal judge in California decided that Apple would be referred to federal prosecutors for violating a U.S. court order that required the iPhone manufacturer to permit more competition for app downloads and payment methods in its lucrative App Store.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers declared that Apple would not be allowed to continue its efforts to stifle competition, stating that it was an order, not a discussion. Based on her argument, there were no second chances once a party willfully disobeyed a court order.
Afterward, she directed federal prosecutors to look into Apple’s and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman’s actions in the case for criminal contempt.
Roman’s testimony regarding Apple’s compliance efforts was described as “replete with misdirection and outright lies”.
Epic Games also secured a victory in its legal challenge against the Google Play Store.
Epic has criticized Apple for stifling competition and taking excessive commissions on in-app purchases for years. In 2021, a Judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, ruled that Apple had broken competition rules in California and ordered it to give developers more freedom to steer users to external payment methods.
Apple’s attempts to reverse the injunction failed, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied hearing the case in 2023. However, in March 2024, Epic doubled down on its condemnation of Apple by accusing the company of “flagrantly violating” the court’s directive by enacting a new 27% fee on payments taking place through third-party payment systems.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, hailed the judge’s ruling as a significant win for both developers and consumers. He emphasized that the decision compels Apple to compete with alternative payment services rather than block them—precisely the outcome Epic had sought.
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