Talk to the myriad Publishers in each country. That’s 50% of the problem right there...

CVB

Hey, calm down with EU.

What would you say if every US stade had different pricing, and that you couldn't buy from another state than the one you live in ?

For now, that's exactly the case here in europe.

Though their methods are sometimes questionable, the EU commission is trying to do a lot of good. I suppose they're wondering why the same songs cost more in Italy for example, and why people in France generally have to pay about ten euro's more for any iPod. In this case, they're probably wondering why a US company prices it's products differently throughout Europe.

Another issue not mentioned is that of content. I am a Brit working in France where my iTunes account is based, but that restricts me to buying the music supplied by the French store and that misses a lot is stuff which is available in the UK. Even things like audiobooks are only available in French. I can buy a CD from Amazon UK and get it delivered to me in France, so why can't I download it as easily through iTunes?

whats stopping anyone from changing apple store ?
I log into iTunes UK on my mac (allowing me to keep up to date with relevant-to-me music releases). On my AppleTV, however, I log into the US store (movies and tv shows months ahead of UK and cheaper prices).

Well you're very lucky, the iTunes store doesn't allow me to set up an account for outside of the UK so that's the store I'm stuck with.

Raise prices across Europe to match the GREATEST common denominator after adjusted for local exchange rates. This will accomplish three things:
1) Get the EU off Apple's back as all prices will then be equal.
2) Allow Apple to make higher profits in countries where it has been charging the bare minimum to keep prices equal within their cost structure.
3) Get people in the countries where their costs rose all cheesed off at these idiot EU administrators.

No, not the EU people, but those supposed 'intelligent' MacNN readers who love to rail on any article that looks like someone is saying bad things about Apple.

If any of you actually took English Comprehension class in school (assuming you've made it that far in your young lives), you'd understand what is being said.

Oh, but you'd actually have to read the 'real' article, not the MacNN rehash. Then you'd realize that the only times Apple was mentioned was when
(a) Steve Jobs was mentioned as being involved in the gathering
(b) The mention of the iTunes case.

That's it. Nothing more.

But look at what is being said:

But some Commission competition cases -- such as the recent iTunes case - have cast doubt on whether the opportunities provided by the internet are being fulfilled or are hindered by barriers created in the off-line world without consideration of their on-line effects,"

Basically, they're complaining about those idiotic licensing groups in each country. The iTunes case is about the varied pricing (either that or the DRM issue, but that doesn't seem to be the arguments here, although that should be dealt with as well).

"...If it is because the competition rules are not up to date, I will update them. And of course, if this is because the competition rules are not being respected, consumers and companies should know that I will enforce them."

This is basically the gauntlet being thrown at all involved. Work with the rules or you're in trouble!

And unless the sundry chiefs meet the challenge of doing business in a unified common market (as the EU is), then European trade enforcers will step in and force them too, Kroes warned

And I would think the sundry chiefs are the labels/licensors, not Apple.

So, why not waste your breath yelling at the editors of MacNN (you all love to do that, too) about the shoddy rehash, instead of the EU, who is trying to enforce their rules (heaven forbid!).

Oh, and those who do read the article will probably think I wrote it, because, at the bottom and out of nowhere, they threw in this paragraph:



Jobs may be in Europe to attend Apple Expo in Paris, which opened in a blaze of nothing this week.

All of you have a misconception, EU doesn't wants to equate the prices.

Germany can sell iTunes tracks at 0,99€ and Spain at 0,75€.

EU wants that an Spanish citizen has the right to buy it form iTunes store in Germany or in Spain.

All of you have a misconception, EU doesn't wants to equate the prices.

Germany can sell iTunes tracks at 0,99€ and Spain at 0,75€.

EU wants that an Spanish citizen has the right to buy it form iTunes store in Germany or in Spain.