Sony-BMG concerns Apple

Apple is opposed to the proposed merger of Sony Music and BMG, is reporting this evening. "Apple is understood to have expressed concerns about possible 'vertical integration' between the merged entity and its respective media parents... People familiar with the situation, however, said Apple had 'forcefully' raised objections over the enlarged music group's selling power for music downloads and potential favourable terms with Sony Connect, the Japanese group's forthcoming rival to Apple's iTunes." Apple's comments come as the European Commission begins a second-stage investigation into the merger. The Commission has said it would examine "the extent to which the vertically-integrated structure of both Sony and Bertelsmann could raise competition concerns."

by MacNN Staff