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EU finds no evidence of illegal activity in Apple's music streaming deals
Antitrust authorities in Europe failed to find evidence that Apple Inc's (O:AAPL)
deals with record labels and online music streaming services are
blocking rivals' access to its music streaming platform, Re/code
reported, citing sources.
The European Commission, the executive
arm of the European Union, started an investigation in April and had
sent out questionnaires to several record labels seeking information
about their dealings with Apple.
The investigation did not turn
up evidence of any illegal activity, but the European Union will
continue to monitor the market, the report said, citing sources.
The
regulators are also seeking information from Spotify and other music
streaming services on the restrictions Apple places on apps offered
through the store, Re/code said, citing people familiar with the
situation.
Apple in June launched a new music streaming service,
Apple Music. It also provides the App Store platform for competing
streaming services including Jango, Spotify, Rhapsody and others.
Reuters
reported in July that U.S. government antitrust regulators were also
looking into claims about whether Apple's treatment of rival streaming
music apps is illegal under antitrust law.
Apple, the European Union and Spotify were not immediately available for comment outside regular U.S. business hours.