View this article at: http://dev.macnn.com/articles/06/03/21/apple.on.french.drm.law Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 10:00pm Apple responds to French DR... Apple today responded to the initial passing of the proposed French law that would force companies to open up their digital rights management (DRM) software for interoperability with other players and music services. Apple said the draft law would result in "state-sponsored piracy," according to a statement obtained by Reuters: "The French implementation of the EU Copyright Directive will result in state-sponsored piracy," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told the publication. "If this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customers." Although it opposes the law, Apple said the proposed law, which passed in the French National Assembly on Tuesday, would likely increase iPod sales: "iPod sales will likely increase as users freely upload their iPods with 'interoperable' music which cannot be adequately protected," Kerris said. "Free movies for iPods should not be far behind." Analysts have said that Apple will likely pull out of France before it opens up its FairPlay DRM to other companies.