The European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) urged Apple to align with the anti-geo-blocking rules of the European Union over specific services offered by the tech giant across the bloc.
In particular, an investigation of Apple’s services found geo-limitations on Apple Media Services, including App Store, Apple Arcade, Music, iTunes Store, Books and Podcasts. These limitations go against EU’s 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation that regulates better access conditions for individuals and businesses in the EU and in the European Economic Area.
“European consumers have equal rights around the EU, so we are asking Apple to bring down barriers created by geo-blocking and to align its practices with EU law,” said Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova.
The findings came after the Commission published in July a report that showed the progress made in geo-blocking practices but also highlighted certain blocks still present for a seamlessly cross-border system.
Commenting on the Apple’s findings and showing the new approach of the Commission on the matter, Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age said “We are stepping up the fight against geo-blocking. No company, big or small, should unjustly discriminate customers based on their nationality, place of residence or place of establishment.”
The CPC Network contested that Apple offers different interface for different countries and that payment methods and app downloading is still subject to geo-blocking. Users are allowed access only from the country were they have registered their Apple account and are not allowed to make payments with cards issued in other countries. These provisions are against the EU geo-blocking rules as they keep unjust discrimination of access based on location.
The Commission invited Apple to reply to the findings and to propose a path for addressing the issues highlighted. If Apple fails to provide solutions, the national competition authorities that were in charge of the investigation can force compliance to EU law. This case was investigated by the national authorities of Belgium, Germany and Ireland, under the coordination of the European Commission.
