EU drops four-year Apple audiobook probe after complaint is withdrawn

The European Union has announced that it has ceased its investigation into how Apple treats rival audiobook developers on the App Store, saying the original complainant has withdrawn.

The EU's probe began in 2020, alongside other antitrust investigations into Apple Pay and the App Store. At that time, an unnamed ebook and audiobook distributor filed a complaint claiming that Apple prevents developers getting important customer data.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the European Commission has now closed its investigation. The EU says that the closure is specifically because the complaint was withdrawn, and is not to be taken as a ruling that Apple is correct.

"The Commission will continue to monitor business practices in the European tech sector, including those of Apple," said an EC spokesperson in a statement, "both under the DMA [Digital Markets Act] and competition rules."

On originally announcing the audiobook probe, the EU said that it was similar to Spotify's complaint over Apple's handling of music streaming. That complaint ultimately led to Apple being fined around $2 billion.

Apple has not commented publicly, and nor has the still unnamed audiobook distributor who has withdrawn their complaint.