French take on iTunes

[Greji]

French plan would open iTunes to other devices
By Astrid Wendlandt

PARIS (Reuters) - France is pushing through a law that would force Apple Computer Inc to open its iTunes online music store and enable consumers to download songs onto devices other than the computer maker's popular iPod player.

Under a draft law expected to be voted in parliament on Thursday, consumers would be able to legally use software that converts digital content into any format. more.....

Maybe if Apple declared war???

[Neo-Rio]

I don't know about declaring war on France, but I DO know about entering "French Military Victories" into Google and hitting "I'm feeling lucky".

[American Oyaji]

I bet that some other company has paid some French lawmakers to propose such BS.

They have more important things to worry about.

Then again, is there a french company that makes MP3 players?

[GuyJean]

I don't know about declaring war on France, but I DO know about entering "French Military Victories" into Google and hitting "I'm feeling lucky".

That's pretty funny..

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/victories.html

I'm surprised Google doesn't 'cease and desist' the right to use their logo.. Of course, they let governments dictate their business practices, so a little 'logo infraction' is probably nothing..

GJ

[Greji]

Apple says proposed French law smacks of piracy
Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:58 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. said on Tuesday a proposed French law that would force Apple to make sure that songs bought on its iTunes music store can work on any portable player would result in "state-sponsored piracy."

"The French implementation of the EU Copyright Directive will result in state-sponsored piracy," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. "If this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customers."

The National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, passed the law on Tuesday, which French officials said is aimed at preventing any one company from building a grip on the digital online music retail market.

The new legislation would require that online music retailers provide the digital rights management software that protects copyright material to allow the conversion of music in one format to another.

But Apple said the law, which it opposes, would likely actually increase its sales of iPod music players. "iPod sales will likely increase as users freely upload their iPods with 'interoperable' music which cannot be adequately protected," Kerris said. "Free movies for iPods should not be far behind."

[Mulboyne]

SMH: French court says Sony 'deceived' consumers: watchdog

Sony has been convicted of misleading the French public and told to pay damages to a consumer watchdog for selling downloadable songs that only run on its own music players, the association has said. France's Union Federale des Consommateurs (UFC) took Sony's French and British subsidiaries to court in February 2005 over the music download site Sony Connect. The lawsuit also targets Apple, maker of the popular iPod, whose case is expected to reach the courts later this year. Music files downloaded on the Sony Connect website are "locked" with what is known as digital rights management (DRM) software, which means they only run on Sony's own players. The lock-in works both ways, with Sony's digital Walkmans unable to run files purchased on rival sites, such as Apple's iTunes...more...