iTunes escapes French DRM law
updated 02:15 pm EST, Thu March 16, 2006
iTunes escapes French DRM
For now, Apple's iTunes ecosystem has escaped the new French law that enforces DRM and imposes penalties on hackers and users who illegally pirate digital music. The much-debated Authors Rights Law, which was just passed by France's National Assembly, goes easy on users who download music and other files illegally, but comes down hard on software developers who write and distribute programs to crack Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection. The proposal reported yesterday that would force online music services--such as Apple's iTunes Music Store--to allow customers to download songs onto devices other than its iPod--has been discussed but not included as a proposal in the draft. Industry watchers speculated yesterday that if the proposal came to fruition, Apple would close down the French iTunes Music Store for fear of users illegally distributing iTunes tracks outside the country.
The National Assembly voted Wednesday night to approve a maximum fine of approximately €40 for users who illegally download music or other files, and voted the maximum penalties of three years in jail and a fine of €300,000 to individuals who distribute software that enables consumers to circumvent copy restrictions enacted by DVD and CD manufacturers, according to the Red Herring.
The National Assembly proposals are not expected to be approved until March 21st, after which the legislation goes to the French Senate, which will vote on the law some time in May.
Marc Gaez, head of the SCPP, a French group that lobbies for music producers, is disgruntled by the National Assembly draft.
"It's hard to evaluate the impact at this point, but we know the law is not going to be good for the recording industry," Gaez said.
Proposals in late December for a global license that would have allowed users to legally download music files for personal use for a nominal monthly fee were dropped, because the proposal would have directly violated the EU directive.
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Apple would have shut it
Apple would have shutdown iTunes store because the DRM is in place to protect against piracy and is required by the record companies in order to sell the music. The record companies I'm sure would insist that Apple close the online music store had that other law get introduced and pass. The other reason is Apple will keep there DRM to themselves and if the French were to have passed that law they would have closed it so that DRM stayed with Apple and not get released to the French or anyone else.