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.”