French iTMS may still shut down
updated 03:00 pm EDT, Fri May 12, 2006
French iTMS troubles
France's softened amendment may still keep Apple's iTunes Music Store out of the country, according to one columnist. French lawmakers are easing the language of a draft law that would force Apple to open up its FairPlay DRM (Digital Rights Management) to competitors, but the regulations may still be too strong. The Director of Public Policy Europe Francisco Mingorance with the Business Software Alliance said that even reworded, the law will have serious effects on technology and media concerns doing business in France, according to columnist Arik Hesseldahl with BusinessWeek online. "No matter the final consolation text, the legislation will have serious consequences," Mingorance said. "Technology companies will have to consider the French market, weighing the profit potential with the possibility of having their technology exposed to competitors."
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Joined: Oct 2001
Deja Vu All Over Again!
I'm old enough to remember when Jimmy Carter slapped an onerous (but politically popular) luxury tax on most large watercraft and yachts a little over 20 years ago. SOUNDED GOOD, until the law of unintended consequences took hold and almost killed the boat-building business in the US. Those who could afford such large ticket items (luxury cars were also included in the measure) simply kept their money in their pockets until the Congress realized what they had done to those two industries, reversing the legislation.
Apple will do the same with this French attempt at egalitarianism. The company will close the iTunes store and simply "wait 'em out" until they come to their senses and QUIETLY reverse themselves.