Apple's Third-Party App Prices Face Expanded Antitrust Probe From Spain

By Edith Hancock

The Spanish competition regulator expanded its investigation over Apple's business terms for developers, saying it wants to scrutinize price points the iPhone maker sets for apps and in-app purchases.

Spain's Comision Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) said on Tuesday that it is broadening the scope of a probe it started last summer over concerns that Apple's business terms for developers that rely on the tech giant's App Store to make money are anticompetitive.

Now, the regulator said it is also looking at Apple's requirements to developers to set prices for their apps, subscriptions and in-app purchases based on a list of roughly 900 price points set by the iPhone maker.

"The CNMC is now investigating whether Apple may have established a pricing schedule that developers are required to follow in order to distribute their apps in its stores," it said, adding that the system could be in breach of European Union laws governing restrictive agreements companies impose on rivals that can distort competition. The watchdog originally set a 24-month window to wrap up its 2024 investigation, and said on Tuesday that the timeline remains unchanged.

"We designed the App Store to be a safe and trusted experience for users and a great business opportunity for developers in Spain and around the world," an Apple spokesperson said. "We will continue to engage with the Spanish Competition Authority to ensure our concerns are fully understood," the spokesperson added.

The tech giant said that developers compete on a level playing field on the App Store.

Write to Edith Hancock at edith.hancock@wsj.com