Apple Receives EU Warning Over Unlawful ‘Geo-Blocking Practices’ on App Store and Other Services

The European Union is once again at odds with Apple. In a recent press announcement, the European Commission revealed it has “notified Apple” of potential infringements regarding the EU’s anti-geo-blocking regulations involving Apple Media Services, including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and others.

This announcement follows a “coordinated investigation” by the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network made up of national consumer authorities. According to the EC, the CPC Network discovered “a variety of restrictions” within Apple Media Services that “illegally discriminate against European consumers based on their residency.”

The CPC Network specifically points out that EU consumers encounter limitations concerning their online access to Apple Media Services, variations in payment methods, and restrictions on app availability:

• Online access: Apple Media Services present different interfaces for various EU/EEA countries. Users are restricted to the interface of their registered country, facing considerable obstacles when trying to switch, which contravenes EU anti-geo-blocking regulations.
• Payment methods: For paid transactions on Apple Media Services, consumers can only utilize payment options (like credit/debit cards) from the country associated with their Apple account registration.
• Downloading: As the App Store does not grant users access to versions from other EU/EEA countries, they cannot download apps available in those regions. Consumers should have the ability to download apps from other EU/EEA countries while traveling or temporarily residing there.

Although the European Commission’s statement generally refers to “Apple Media Services,” it encompasses all of Apple’s major services, including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, iCloud, Game Center, Apple Sports, and many more.

Apple is now required to respond within a month to the CPC Network’s findings and “propose commitments to address the identified geo-blocking concerns.” Following this, the CPC Network may “enter into dialogue” with Apple. However, if Apple does not adequately address these issues, the European Commission is authorized to take enforcement measures against the company.

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