Apple is attempting to defend itself against an EU antitrust charge based on Spotify's allegation

Apple will seek to defend itself against a new EU antitrust complaint and potential large penalties related to claims that it hinders music streaming businesses such as Spotify from providing consumers of other purchasing choices outside its App Store on Friday.

In a confidential session in Brussels, Apple will present its case to senior European Commission officials and their counterparts from national competition agencies.

Earlier this year, EU antitrust authorities strengthened their case against Apple's so-called anti-steering duties, but dropped an earlier allegation against Apple's demand that developers utilise its in-app payment mechanism.

The Commission claimed that the anti-steering responsibilities violate EU anti-unfair trading conditions regulations, a highly innovative legal position in an antitrust proceeding.

Apple has stated that the action launched by a Spotify complaint in 2019 has no basis, citing Spotify's strong market dominance in Europe, where Apple Music lags in third or fourth place in most EU nations.

Its other point is that it has changed its regulations to enable reader applications like Spotify and Netflix to incorporate links to their website for sign-ups and user purchases, helping app developers to avoid the App Store's contentious 30% fee.

Reader applications provide material such as e-books, videos, and music for a fee during sign-up.

Spotify, which will also be present at the court, has rejected Apple's revised anti-steering guidelines, claiming that nothing has changed. It has requested the Commission to make a judgement as soon as possible.

The EU executive has stated that it never comments on potential oral hearings or their dates.