French Court Says iTunes Can Stay Closed

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.com.com/French+court+wont+force+Apple+to+open+up+iTunes/2100-1027_3-5447124.html' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/French+court+wont+force+Apple+to+open+up+iTunes/2100-1027_3-5447124.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/itunes.jpg" /><i>"The French Competition Council has dismissed a case brought by Virgin's French arm against Apple Computer for alleged abuse of market dominance. French download site VirginMega wanted to force Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple to lift the lid on its digital rights management (DRM) technology in order to allow Virgin to make its downloads compatible with the iPod music player. Apple has refused to open up its proprietary FairPlay technology--the DRM system that allows songs from the iTunes store to be played only on iPods--to competitors. VirginMega has opted for Microsoft's DRM, which means that its downloads can't be played on iPods at all." </i><br /><br />Sacre bleu! Further proof the French courts are full of merde. Apple has a monopoly over iTunes and Fairplay, which are the company's intellectual property. As such Apple has refused to allow other vendors access to its Jukebox software, digital audio player, and DRM technology. In other words they lock customers into their products. Hmm....that has a familiar ring to it, doesn't it? You can argue all you want about evil Microsoft and its monopolistic antics, but the fact is iTunes/iPod/Fairplay is closed, Windows Media is an open platform for all vendors...not just MSN Music. Share and share alike.

[Felix Torres]

Far be it for me to agree with anything the french "Dirigiste-eans" might have to say but, as they say "a stopped clock is right twice a day".
Accidents happen... :twisted:

What the committee in question (and a very questionable committee it was) said was that Virgin did not prove any harm to consumers because there is no proven link between hardware lock-in and download lock-in *yet*. That the business is tiny and immature and consumers are not lacking for alternatives.
Some might object to this, starting with Mr Jobs and his fans, but the committee sees nothing wrong *at this time*.
I'm sure that as soon as Phillips gets off the ground with their euro-DRM scheme, the same committee will find ample harm cause by the nasty american predatory monopolist from red...er...cupertino... :wink:

Now, what I would like to see is what Apple testified in their defense and what the *ahem* financial wizards paying over 50 times earnings for Apple stock would do if they heard said testimony.

Anyway, fear not; apple is no monopolist, much as they like to pretend they are.
Of course, they might discover, much like Saddam did, that if you pretend to be something long enough and loudly enough, sooner or later somebody will take you at your word and treat you accordingly.

A friendly suggestion for Mr Jobs: tone down the market domination hype before somebody remembers anti-trust doesn't apply to MS alone.

[aro]

Là mon Kent, je pense que c'est toi qui est plein de crotin.

aro 8)