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EU: iTunes must change or be changed

updated 07:15 pm EDT, Thu September 18, 2008

EU wants iTunes changed

European Union competition commissioner Neelie Kroes spoke to Apple CEO Steve Jobs and long-time rocker Mick Jagger in a meeting today, chastising Apple others for creating a varied market with its iTunes Store. Network World reports that Kroes reminded those present of the EU's intent of creating a borderless living style and marketplace among nations in the Union. Kroes made it clear that if there was any confusion over the rules, that she would explain them.

Kroes noted that Apple's varied pricing across different countries was representative of this, and stressed that if the problem was not dealt with, the EU would make steps to ensure that Apple and others comply.

"The people of Europe were promised a union, a place without borders: but on the internet they have not yet got it," said Kroes. "Progress has been made; sometimes impressive, but it is not enough. As Competition Commissioner, I want to know why. If this is because the competition rules are not clear enough, I will clarify them. 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."

 
Previous Comments

gotta love the hypocrisy

09/18, 07:39pm (1 reply) reply

EU wants a free market so we're going to set the rules for you. Yeah thats free...

Guest

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Joined: Nov 1999

-6

Jagger?? wtf??

09/18, 07:42pm reply

What does Mick Jagger have to do with the price of cheese in China? Was he just there to get them coffee?

macuserssmelllikebum

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Joined: Dec 2006

+7

Okay EU, change the

09/18, 07:44pm reply

Okay EU, change the record labels! There the ones that price the music not Apple. If the record labels are charging to much then they need to reset the pricing, not Apple.

IDIOTS!!!!

horvatic

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Joined: Apr 2002

+9

Apples

09/18, 07:48pm reply

So does that mean that an Apple (the fruit) should cost the same in Germany as it does in France and the UK?

How is Apple's (the company) infrastructure set up? Do the record companies have different licensing terms in different countries (as would be suggested by the fact the iTunes was rolled out on a country-by-country basis)? It would seem inefficient for Apple to have done that unless they were forced to by someone else. Or perhaps their bandwidth expenses are more in one country than in another. Perhaps the EU should first ensure that every member country has the same bandwidth prices.

Bottom line, there are a lot of variables (like the UK uses a different currency), and you can't just point to the symptom (variance in iTunes pricing) and blame Apple without understand the root causes of it.

ender

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 1999

+7

Tough talk

09/18, 08:23pm reply

Tough talk by the new iron lady.

Some very obvious points being made above; I'm sure Kroes' advisers have informed her that music comes from record companies :roll-eyes:

dronkert

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Joined: Jun 2007

+3

haha!

09/18, 08:28pm reply

Thaaaat's right. Apply pressure to the pipe for more, not the valves.

Flying Meat

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Joined: Jan 2007

+3

What Kroes forgets

09/18, 09:29pm reply

is that each country may pile on taxes and tariffs that influence the price as well as whatever the music label for each market is doing.

bigpoppa206

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Joined: Jun 2003

+6

move on, nothing here

09/18, 11:01pm reply

isn't it time to dump this "Europe" thing already?

gikku

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Joined: Jul 2006

-1

hypocrites

09/18, 11:46pm reply

You call out the EU saying they are in the wrong here; yet praised them when they said that MS was in the wrong. Hypocrisy thy name is you!

Guest

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Joined: Nov 1999

-2

hypocrites

09/18, 11:47pm reply

You call out the EU saying they are in the wrong here; yet praised them when they said that MS was in the wrong. Hypocrisy thy name is you!

Guest

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

-9

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