Overview

• Spain’s competition regulator has widened its ex officio investigation to examine whether developers are forced to follow a specific App Store pricing schedule that could restrict competition under Article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act and Article 101 of the TFEU.
• The probe now targets Apple’s tiered price points system, which offers 800 default levels and up to 100 additional increments reaching $10,000 across storefronts.
• Launched in July 2024, the investigation retains a 24-month deadline and the CNMC stressed that broadening its scope does not prejudge the final outcome.
• If found in violation, Apple could face fines of up to 10% of its global turnover under Spanish law on top of the European Commission’s €500 million penalty earlier this year under the Digital Markets Act.
• Apple has denied imposing unfair terms and highlights its recent overhaul of EU App Store policies as evidence that developers compete on a level playing field.