Mar 13, 2019

Spotify files complaint against Apple

Spotify logo. Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek wrote in a post Wednesday that the company filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission claiming Apple's App Store tries to "deliberately disadvantage other app developers" by forcing a 30% tax on Spotify and other digital services and limiting communication to customers.

Why it matters: Netflix has been directing their users to subscribe in different ways than the App Store to avoid the exact same fees since at last August, Billboard reports. Though Apple Music is a competitor, Spotify claims Apple's App Store purposely makes it difficult for the developer. After the two companies couldn't work it out, Ek turned to the EC, which oversees fair and nondiscriminatory competition in business practices.

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Axios

There are warning signs that Nevada could be Iowa all over again

Former Sen. Harry Reid (D) lines up to cast an early vote for the upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The alarms are increasingly sounding over Nevada's Democratic caucus, which is just five days away.

Why it matters: Similar issues to the ones that plagued Iowa's caucus seem to be rearing their ugly heads, the WashPost reports.

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Axios

China tries to contain coronavirus, as Apple warns of earnings impact

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's NHC; Note: China refers to mainland China and the Diamond Princess is the cruise ship offshore Yokohama, Japan. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

As China pushes to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus — placing around 780 million people under travel restrictions, per CNN — the economic repercussions continue to be felt globally as companies like Apple warn of the impact from the lack of manufacturing and consumer demand in China.

The big picture: COVID-19 has now killed at least 1,775 people and infected more than 70,000 others, mostly in mainland China. There are some signs that new cases are growing at a slower rate now, although the World Health Organization said Monday it's "too early to tell" if this will continue.

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Ina Fried

Apple will miss quarterly earnings estimates due to coronavirus

Apple CEO Tim Cook

Apple issued a rare earnings warning on Monday, saying it would not meet quarterly revenue expectations due to the impact of the coronavirus, which will limit iPhone production and limit product demand in China.

Why it matters: Lots of companies rely on China for production, but unlike most U.S. tech companies, Apple also gets a significant chunk of its revenue from sales in China.

Go deeper5 hours ago - Technology