NEWS /

German, French Groups Want Open iTunes

23 Jan, 2007, 2:12 pm IST | by AP |

German and French consumer groups have joined a Nordic-led drive to force Apple Inc. to make its iTunes online store compatible with digital music players made by rival companies, a Norwegian official said Monday.


Currently, song purchased and downloaded through iTunes are designed to work with Apple's market-leading iPod players but not competitors' models, including those using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media system. Likewise, iPods generally can't play copy-protected music sold through non-Apple stores.

Last June, consumer agencies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden claimed that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in their countries.

Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon said French consumer lobby UFC-Que Choisir and its German counterpart, Ferbraucherzentralen, joined the effort late last year, and other European countries are considering it. Finland's Kuluttajavirasto consumer group is also part of the effort.

''This is important because Germany and France are European giants,'' Thon said. ''Germany, in particular, is a big market for digital music.''

The Nordic regulators have met Apple officials at least twice on the complaints.

''Apple is aware of the concerns we've heard from several agencies in Europe and we're looking forward to resolving these issues as quickly as possible,'' Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said Monday. ''Apple hopes that European governments will encourage a competitive environment that lets innovation thrive, protects intellectual property and allows consumers to decide which products are successful.''

Thon said Norway gave Apple until September to change its polices, or face possible legal action and fines in the country.

''It cannot be good for the music industry for them to lock music into one system,'' he said.

A French law that allows regulators to force Apple to make its iPod player and iTunes store compatible with rival offerings went into effect in August.

Apple has been working to expand its iPod sales in Europe and said during its quarterly report last week its advertising and sales efforts were paying off. Company officials say the iPod gained market share in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Austria and Denmark during the holiday period.

Tags: iTunes , Apple

RELATED STORIES

Apple will give out a free app a week; App Store will update

Apple will give out a free app a week; App Store will update

The iOS App Store hasn't had an update in a while and certainly needs a redesign. The store now contains ...

iTunes 11 with better iCloud integration may be in the works

6 ways to backup mobile data

Sony’s Music Unlimited service heading to iOS

Apple brings in iTunes v10.5.2

Napster to finally rest in peace

Sting turns 60, celebrates with iPad "appumentary" digital scrapbook

iTunes for Windows

13 Jun, 2007, 01:27 am IST

iTunes for Windows

How to Use iTunes : How to Add Files to iTunes Library

26 Feb, 2008, 04:43 am IST

How to Use iTunes : How to Add Files to ...

Apple iTunes Intro - Part 1

30 May, 2007, 10:54 am IST

Apple iTunes Intro - Part 1

 

Leaked Images, Availability, Pricing,
Specs, Pre-order

Photos

High Court Order - Madras

High Court Order - Madras

17 May, 2012, 04:22 PM

2.3

Trials Evolution

Trials Evolution

12 May, 2012, 10:33 AM

Sniper Elite V2

Sniper Elite V2

09 May, 2012, 10:04 PM

3.3

MORE PHOTOS

OPINIONS

Padmini Harchandrai

The latest "should they-shouldn't they" event with Facebook is the lift of the minimu...

MORE OPINIONS

features

Portable Wi-Fi Drives for your smartphone

Portable Wi-Fi Drives for your smartphone

Fed up of the limited storage on your mobile device? Here are some devices

By Aaron Almeida

Top 5 potential Gmail alternatives

Top 5 potential Gmail alternatives

Google’s Gmail service is arguably the most advanced and feature-packed...

By Naina Khedekar

Five ways to beat the petrol hike

Five ways to beat the petrol hike

Petrol prices went up by a considerable amount post Wednesday, and this...

By Karan Shah

MORE FEATURES

On video: HTC One V

On video: HTC One V

18 May, 2012, 04:44 AM

4.5

On video: Cowon Z2 (16GB)

On video: Cowon Z2 (16GB)

15 May, 2012, 04:58 PM

2.3

On video: Samsung WB150F

On video: Samsung WB150F

08 May, 2012, 04:23 AM

5.0

MORE VIDEOS

776 views

1129 views

630 views

MORE WALLPAPERS