Spain investigates Apple for 'imposing unfair commercial conditions' on developers

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Apple is under investigation by Spanish antitrust authorities, who accuse the iPhone maker of “imposing unfair commercial conditions on developers” who use its App Store.
The regulator said Apple could be fined up to 10% of its total global revenue if it is found to have violated the country’s competition law.
The Spanish investigation comes amid a series of European Union probes into the iPhone maker for alleged anti-competitive practices.

Apple (AAPL) is under investigation by Spanish antitrust authorities, who accuse the iPhone maker of “imposing unfair commercial conditions on developers” who use its App Store.

The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) said it was investigating whether Apple was implementing anti-competitive practices towards third-party developers.

The regulator said Apple could be fined up to 10% of its total global revenue if it is found to have violated the country’s competition law.

Apple did not immediately return a Investopedia request for comment.

Spanish antitrust probe comes amid EU investigations

The Spanish investigation comes amid a series of European Union (EU) probes into Apple for alleged anti-competitive practices.

Earlier this month, the company settled its probe into “tap and go” payments with the European Commission (EC), the EU’s law enforcement body, by opening up its mobile wallet to competitors for free in a bid to avoid antitrust fines.

Last month, the company was also found in preliminary violation of the European Digital Markets Act (DMA) because users could not be “directed” away from the App Store to make payments.

In March, the EU gave Spotify a boost by fining Apple around $2 billion (€1.8 billion) for “abusive App Store rules for music streaming providers.”

Apple shares were down nearly 2% at $220.73 as of 10:25 a.m. ET Wednesday. They are up 15% this year.