French law takes effect

The French law which repeatedly threatened Apple's iPod/iTunes ecosystem today officially went into effect, according to a report from the Associated Press. The bill initially passed the house with measures that Apple dubbed "State-sponsored piracy," but was watered down later in its progression through the French Senate prior to its final approval. The French Constitutional Council last week further diluted the new law, eliminating several measures that it said were unconstitutional. Industry watchers predicted that if the law passed in its initial form -- or even in its revised form following its passage through the French Senate -- Apple would close down the French iTunes Music Store, rather than offer competitors the opportunity to play tracks purchased from iTunes on their own portable media players.

by MacNN Staff