Germany, France join Nordic crusade against iTunes

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Germany, France join Nordic crusade against iTunes

German and French consumer groups have joined regulators from Norway, Denmark and Sweden in the ongoing effort to force Apple to make songs bought from the iTunes Store compatible with devices other than the iPod. The Associated Press reports: “Last June, consumer agencies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden claimed that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in their countries. Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon said French consumer lobby UFC-Que Choisir and its German counterpart, Ferbraucherzentralen, joined the effort late last year, and other European countries are considering it. Finland’s Kuluttajavirasto consumer group is also part of the effort.”

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Comments

21

This issue is much complex and let me put some facts. I am involved with major companies who are involved in Net based entertainment area as a Strategic adviser and can tell you that well before iPod, I was involve with Sony to develop the same device and Sony Music using the internet to download. Whole thing went in to a disaster mode due to one part of Sony Engineers asking for ATARC ONLY as a format and did not like mp3 or any other format. That’s the end of the meeting in Japan. Since I talk to movie studios and Music studios, one this is very clear..If you use the NET, you must protect(movie or music) with DRM, otherwise they will not release their products.
They are very strict on Asia due pirate issue and they do not care which DRM, as long as consumer could not created a DIGITAL copy, they are ok. My advise to the Network operators who want to go into this business is to develop their own DRM since it is their network and close one as well. Do I criticise Apple ? No I will not since they spend so much time and effort to develop some thing no one has. If countries want DRM portability then they have to develop their own DRM standard for the country and mandate it similar to TV standards which they mandate. Otherwise they should not get involve in it.

Posted by Fan on January 25, 2007 at 6:34 PM (PDT)

22

Oh yeah Gene, you’re really screwing him. Fight the power! Go kick a few mail boxes while your at it, dork.

Posted by Breadfan on January 25, 2007 at 8:44 PM (PDT)

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