France adopts toned down iTunes interoperability law

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France adopts toned down iTunes interoperability law

French lawmakers on Friday adopted a toned down version of the controversial law that could force Apple to open up its iPod and iTunes copy-protection technology. The law, which aims to make content from digital media stores compatible with all portable devices, could tempt Apple to shut down the iTunes Music Store in France. “In its initial form, the bill would have forced online stores like iTunes to drop barriers that prevent songs it sells being played on portable MP3 devices and computers designed to work with another music store,” reports Reuters. “But after amendments introduced in the Senate, the law allows companies to argue that measures to restrict the technical compatibility of songs or films sold online were undertaken at the request of the authors.”

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Comments

1

I would hope that the other nations in Europe and Scandinavia do not follow France’s suit. In recent armed conflicts I seem to recall that the French word for ‘charge’ is SURENDER. I sincerely hope that in the same vain as the Freedom Fries, Apple tells the French government to Manger la Merde

Posted by Paul Bernheimer on July 1, 2006 at 8:48 AM (PDT)

2

I have a Creative Mp3 player and I have downloaded many songs from iTunes. To put those songs on my Creative player all I do is burn a CD of all the songs then re-insert the CD and then transfer it to my Windows Media player or my Creative Music player.

Posted by Levi on July 1, 2006 at 1:31 PM (PDT)

3

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’m sick of this issue. I prefer AAC and the iPod for tunes, however it is not my only device.

My phone has over 1GB of storage that’s just aching for some music. It wont replace my iPod, but there are times when it is inappropriate or undesirable to carry both. When that happens the phone always wins.

So what I’m asking for is for Apple and the others to grow up. Keeping the system(s) inflexible will eventually cause users to switch. iTunes and the iTunes Music store is nothing without the iPod. If the iPod remains inflexible then it’s days are numbered. Similarly if the others continue to be unable to play either aac or protected aac, then they too will continue to fail. Both sides need to come to the table and shut the f*** up and listen to us and to each other and come up with one common encoding system they both can support.

I’m already finding itunes stale and increasingly less useful for managing my media content. As I find myself using more devices that do not run aac, I can honestly see myself switching just because of the
interoperability issue.

*I know I can use mp3 format but often I dont have the time or inclination to go through the process. I hate making coasters for one-off tracks. However, this issue is increaingly going to be about videos and cross encoding to mp3 isn’t going to solve that.

Posted by gilatrout on July 6, 2006 at 5:31 AM (PDT)

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