France amends law

As of yesterday iTunes had escaped the French Authors Rights Law, which after heated debate was passed by France's National Assembly and left digital content distributors free to impose DRM restrictions on music sold online. Today, however, amendments to the bill would offer rivals access to the previously exclusive file formats which form the core of Apple's music business model, forcing the company to make its FairPlay DRM work with competing services and players, according to the Associated Press. Lawmakers in the lower house voted to approve the amended bill early today, and will hold another formal vote on Tuesday next week before sending the law on to the Senate for its final reading. While critics of the bill say legislators have no right to force Apple to share its proprietary format, consumer groups are arguing that customers will have real choice only if restrictions are lifted. "It's an essential condition for consumers and for the market itself," Julien Dourgnon said, a spokesman France's primary consumer organization, UFC-Que Choisir.

by MacNN Staff