iTunes User Sues Apple For Monopolistic Practices

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050106-4508.html' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050106-4508.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Thomas Slattery of California has sued Apple Computer for engaging in monopolistic practices. Slattery was apparently displeased when he learned that music purchases from the iTunes Music Store could only be played back using iTunes and Apple's portable iPod line of players."</i><br /><br />We knew this had to happen sooner or later. First Microsoft accused Apple of engaging in monolistic practices by locking users into its home brew music service and audio player, and now users themselves are starting to sit up and take notice. Though I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to be the shadow <i>behind </i>this lawsuit. :onfire:

[Jason Eaton]

Other then wasting money, what is this really accomplishing? All information about what you can do with iTunes songs and what types of songs will play on the iPod line where AND are full disclosed.

Buyer beware and all that. Can I sue the local Mobile gas station because its diesel fuel doesn't work for my unleaded fuel only car? If this is a Microsoft initiative, that is pathetic. However I'll leave them the benefit of the doubt and just pretend the person is a moron.

[gdoerr56]

So it IS monoplistic behavior when Microsoft extends their OS to include media technology according to Microsoft competitors but the reverse is not true?

While I believe these kinds of lawsuits only serve to clog up our legal system, legal precedent has been established by Netscape, Sun and others for this action.

My personal opinion is that Apple could kill all other player vendors by including support for Microsoft WMA/DRM technology. This, however, would not work if Apple's main goal is using the iPod as a Trojan Horse to get market share in the computer industry. Which is again what Microsoft was sued for doing...

[James Fee]

Well you do realize Microsoft has a much larger share of the OS market than Apple does, right? ;)

[gdoerr56]

Yes, you are correct but the fundamentals of the legal system are supposed to apply equally to all. Just as justice should not be able to be bought, it should not always go to the little(r) guy.

Yes, I know, we have to live in the real world... :(

[Tim Williamson]

That idiot wasn't forced to use iTunes and should have known he can't play iTune songs on any other players. People should be smart enough not to use freaking online music services in the first place and stick with buying CDs, which give you the highest sound quality and the flexibility of playing songs on any player.

[Felix Torres]

Though I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to be the shadow behind this lawsuit. :onfire:

Not likely; Microsoft's interests are best served by letting Apple continue on their current path for two more years.
Why wake them out of their smug complacency while the fad is at its height? Better to let them drive Sony and everybody else onto Windows Media and MS DRM first. Then, if the pod Razors out of the market, MS is left standing pretty. And if it doesn't, Philips and the euros will sue and rip Apple by 06.
Beside, this lawsuit is coming out of California, not Seattle, so there is no need to get paranoid... ;-)

[Jason Dunn]

Nah, I don't believe for a second that Microsoft is behind this. But I do think there's some merit to the concept that consumers don't really grasp how locked in they are with the songs they buy from Apple. But is a lawsuit the answer? Nope, that's just stupid.