digital music/video
06/23/2006, 12:50pm, EDT
Friday, June 23rd
Apple speaks on softened French bill
Despite French lawmakers' agreement on a softened version of the draft law which threatens Apple's iTunes Music Store, the Cupertino-based company voiced discontent regarding the amended version of the bill. "We are awaiting the final result of France's legislative process, and hope they let the extremely competitive marketplace driven by customer choice decide which music players and online music stores are offered to consumers," Apple stated following the vote. This constitutes the strongest hint yet that Apple could withdraw its French iTunes store rather than comply with the bill, according to the New York Times. The amended law currently stands to offer record companies more leverage in their battle with Apple over fixed song pricing, which the iPod-maker has managed to maintain despite threats and complaints from labels.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video
, 
, 12
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
This may be a messy process, either way the cookie crumbles.
They pass laws saying it is in the interest of the people. But they really pass laws that protect their local industries and shield inefficient local businesses against world competition. They are hopeless.
The other manufacturers can choose whether or not to but the licenses which will open their players to itunes.
The DRM is only there in the first place because of the record companies.