Spotify Says Apple is Hindering its Audiobook Business

Spotify has accused Apple of hindering its audiobook business after the Cupertino-based company rejected the music streaming platform's latest app update three times last month, as per MacRumors.

The music streamer launched its audiobook business in September. It comes with 300,000 titles. But now, Spotify is frustrated over the iPhone maker's policy, saying that the company is impeding their new business.

Apple and Spotify Feud Continues

The feud between Apple and Spotify has been running for years. The dispute rooted with the iPhone maker's App Store policies.

Moreover, the companies have been engaged in multiple public conflicts over app and subscription fees. Over the years, the music streamer has been trying to skirt the up to 30 percent cut of Apple from the purchases made in the App Store.

The music streamer would have to give Apple 30 percent of the audiobook's revenue if it would let users buy the audiobook directly within the app.

To prevent this from happening, the company try to skirt the App Store's policy by creating a workaround system of letting users buy the audiobook on its website.

But the purchasing system that Spotify devised was rejected by Apple thrice already, saying it violated the rules of App Store.

The tech company says that Spotify's audiobook updates "is not in line with the guidelines that cover how apps can communicate with users about purchasing options outside of the ‌App Store."

According to the Cupertino-based company, the music streamer is only attempting to get around its ‌App Store‌ rules, as per Engadget.

"We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance," an Apple spokesperson said.

To comply with the policies, Spotify had to keep the price of the audiobooks hidden. They also had to do sales outside via email link and not through the main app.

Since users will not be able to easily compare the prices, it becomes harder for Spotify to compete. Now, the music streamer is frustrated with the tech giant's restrictions on how it can inform customers to make the purchase.

Spotify Doesn't Want to Give Apple a Cut From the Sales of Audiobooks

Last year, a change with the App Store rule was implemented. Developers are now allowed to use communications like email to provide information to users about the payment options that they can use outside an iOS app.

However, the music streamer is experiencing some issues in trying to implement the said feature. The music streamer does not want to give Apple a cut of from the sales of the audiobooks, instead it wants to direct customers to buy audiobooks online.

According to MacRumors, it seems that the Cupertino-based company has told the music streamer that its option is to send customers emails about online purchases.

While Apple initially approved the app update in September, the company later decided to reverse its decision.

A version of the app without the information about how to purchase an audiobook from the music streamer's website was released by Spotify after the multiple rejections from the company. It was approved by Apple.

Now, the music streamer is informing its users that "there is no option to buy an audiobook in the app," with a text that says "We know it's not ideal."