View this article at: http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/06/23/apple.on.french.draft.law/ Friday, Jun 23, 2006 12:50pm Apple speaks on softened French bill Despite French lawmakers' agreement on a softened version of the draft law which threatens Apple's iTunes Music Store, the Cupertino-based company voiced discontent regarding the amended version of the bill. "We are awaiting the final result of France's legislative process, and hope they let the extremely competitive marketplace driven by customer choice decide which music players and online music stores are offered to consumers," Apple stated following the vote. This constitutes the strongest hint yet that Apple could withdraw its French iTunes store rather than comply with the bill, according to the New York Times. The amended law currently stands to offer record companies more leverage in their battle with Apple over fixed song pricing, which the iPod-maker has managed to maintain despite threats and complaints from labels.