Apple loves France?

Apple this week quietly announced a new technology partnership with a leading business school in France, despite the initial passing of a French law that could threaten the future of Apple's propietary iTunes/iPod ecosystem. If passed by the French Senate later this year, the law could force Apple to open up the closed system or--more likely--force Apple to pull out of France to protect its DRM software. BusinessWeek reports that Apple unveiled technology collaboration to integrate iPods into the classrooms and curricula of HEC, a business school located near Versailles. "Under the terms of the two-year partnership, Apple will work closely with It's the first such relationship Apple has struck in Europe, following the model of similar deals with Stanford University and Duke University in the U.S. Cooperation presents enticing opportunities for both parties. HEC will get a boatload of hardware, software, service, and support donated by Apple." The report also notes that Apple holds the number one position in the European education market with a 15.2 percent marketshare.

by MacNN Staff