France Law Continues to Evolve Towards iTunes Showdown

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188270,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188270,00.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Apple Computer Inc. faces a serious challenge in France as lawmakers move to sever the umbilical cord between its iPod music player and iTunes online store — threatening its lucrative hold on both markets. Amendments to an online copyright bill, adopted early Friday, would give rivals access to the hitherto-exclusive file formats at the heart of Apple's music business model, as well as Sony Corp.'s (SNE) Walkman players and Connect store. According to the latest amendments, however, copy-protection technologies like Apple's FairPlay format and Sony's ATRAC3 must work with competing services and players. Companies that refuse to share all essential information with any rival that requests it would be ordered to do so by a judge, under threat of fines."</i><br /><br />An interesting development to say the least - this is what I thought the law was originally set up to do, but it looks like this amendment is the final tweak that puts Apple's head in a vice. I wonder how they'll respond?

[yada88]

Apple and jobs is an obstinate company. I think if push comes to shove, they would just pull itunes music store in France.

[Felix Torres]

Apple and jobs is an obstinate company. I think if push comes to shove, they would just pull itunes music store in France.

If it was france alone, they might; but this particular move isn't stopping there:

http://news.com.com/French+on+to+something+with+iTunes+law%2C+say+analysts/2100-1028_3-6051495.html?tag=nefd.top

What's interesting is that they want to force Apple and Sony to license their DRM because they're afraid MS DRM would otherwise become the standard.

[Phoenix]

...What's interesting is that they want to force Apple and Sony to license their DRM because they're afraid MS DRM would otherwise become the standard.

At some point, it very well might.

[Felix Torres]

...What's interesting is that they want to force Apple and Sony to license their DRM because they're afraid MS DRM would otherwise become the standard.

At some point, it very well might.

It'll be a cold day in the Amazon jungle, if the EU has anything to say about it. In fact, that is exactly the reason for the anti-itunes law, as pointed out by the euro pundit in the second article; they would rather live with a hodge-podge of incompatible standards than a unified standard provided by an american company.