EU investigates iTunes pricing only
updated 09:55 pm EST, Wed March 22, 2006
E.U. probe on pricing only
The European Commission has said it is probing Apple due to the pricing of music sold by the iTunes Music Store, not the interoperability with other online music software. "We are only investigating price divergences concerning iTunes," European competition spokesman Jonathan Todd said. The Commission said it would investigate whether Apple is overcharging U.K. customers for iTunes songs in February of 2005, according to a report from Marketwatch. Apple charges 79 pence per song downloaded from the iTunes Music Store in the U.K., and €.99 elsewhere, resulting in U.K. customers paying 20 percent more than other European consumers. Additionally, U.K. residents are unable to download songs from the non-U.K. iTunes stores. Todd said that "the investigation is in the early stages."
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2003
Investigate the Music Cos
The EU should be investigating the music company cartel. I'm sure Apple would have loved to have 1 single store for all of Europe, it would be much easier to manage, making the most of what little profit they make from the store.
In fact, until Apple launched in the UK, other stores were charging more, so how Apple has a problem I don't know.
Of course, anything to make iTMS cheaper would be welcome.