European groups join Norway vs. iTunes
updated 06:35 pm EST, Mon January 22, 2007
France, Germany vs. iTunes
A Norwegian official today revealed that French and German consumer groups have joined several Scandinavian countries in their efforts to pressure Apple to open its iTunes Music Store, thereby enabling customers to purchase, download, and play tracks from iTunes on their non-Apple portable players. In June of 2006 consumer agencies in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden charged that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in those countries, and provided Apple with a deadline to respond to those claims. Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon said French consumer lobby UFC-Que Choisir and its German counterpart, Verbraucher, joined the movement late last year, according to the Associated Press, and that other European countries are considering joining effort. "This is important because Germany and France are European giants," said Thon. "Germany, in particular, is a big market for digital music."
An Apple spokesman today addressed the announcement: "Apple is aware of the concerns we've heard from several agencies in Europe and we're looking forward to resolving these issues as quickly as possible. Apple hopes that European governments will encourage a competitive environment that lets innovation thrive, protects intellectual property and allows consumers to decide which products are successful."
So I guess there goes...
01/22, 07:33pm reply
..iTS enhancement in Europe.
Why don't people just buy the product or not. What's made iPod/iTS successful is 'how' it works & if you don't like 'how' it works - buy something else!
McD
McDave
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2006
M$?
01/22, 08:01pm reply
Why aren't they going after M$ to make their format open as well?
t6hawk
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Jan 2001
They should go after MS
01/22, 09:24pm reply
The main reason why Apple created the iPod and iTunes in the first place was because nobody was supporting mac users for online music services and players.
aristotles
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Re: m$
01/22, 09:54pm reply
Why aren't they going after M$ to make their format open as well?
I don't know, maybe because Apple has 89% of the music market and, ergo, the one that most consumers have their 'issues' with.
You know, sort of the same reason they went after microsoft with their OS and all.
Man, Apple has a piddly OS market share and its all "Why don't they do something about the Microsoft and their huge monopoly!" Then, when its Apple with a monopoly, its "Why don't they leave poor Apple alone and go after MS with its piddly market share!
LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2000
Ironic
01/22, 10:10pm reply
It’s quite ironic that monopolizing an OS has a much greater impact on ones life then how one plays downloaded music but you wouldn’t find that concern from these “consumer groups”...
CVB
cvbcvb
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2003
Re: ironic
01/22, 10:15pm reply
It’s quite ironic that monopolizing an OS has a much greater impact on ones life then how one plays downloaded music but you wouldn’t find that concern from these “consumer groups”...
Right....its so unbelievable that MS has gotten away with murder in Europe. Oh, wait, they're under sanctions over there, plus having to go through hoops just to release vista.
And did it occur to you that these consumer groups are groups concerned about digital music. It would seem kind of stupid for them to be up in arms over OSes (that's like saying a consumer group focused on kids eating healthy should be going after the auto industry).
BTW, maybe you should note that iTunes/Fairplay are also not to be seen on Linux, let alone any other OS but Mac and Windows. Maybe they are concerned about monopolizing OSes and how it can cause people not to be able to make choices they want.
LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2000
Louzer, linux !=desktop
01/22, 10:24pm reply
The linux community is openly hostile towards closed source software.
Your comment does not change the fact that MSFT only supports one platform and Apple supports both mac OS X and windows. That is more choice than Playsforsure or Zune offers.
MSFT was supposed to be split up by the US government. They got away with murder in the US.
aristotles
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Move on already
01/23, 08:27am reply
Like someone said above, if you don't like it, use another system. Apple and iTunes DOES NOT have a monopoly on music.
Downloaded music is what, 10-20% of music sales? It's not like you can't go to your local music store and get the same music for your non-ipod player.
Toyin
Mac Elite
Joined: Nov 2000
Get a life and get an iPo
01/23, 11:36am reply
What's wrong with these people. Why don't they just get a life and buy an iPod if they want to use iTunes so fricken bad. What are they going to do to iTunes, threaten it with tea and biskets? You shutdown iTunes and you basically shutdown 80% of the legal downloads. Is that what they want? Idiots!
horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2002
let 'em eat...
01/23, 11:49am reply
cake and just do without (or get a ZUNE)!
smitch
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2005