EU commissioner attacks iTunes
p2pnet.net news:- “Do you think it’s fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod?”
That’s what millions of people have been wondering for years, but this time the question comes from European Union Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.
She doesn’t think it’s OK, and says so to German magazine Focus, declaring, “Something has to change.”
Apple’s DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control software means music bought on the Apple iTunes, the user-funded iPod online loader dressed up as a music service, can only be played on the iPod.
“Kuneva is carrying out a review of the eight basic laws which govern cross-border consumer rights,” says Digital-Lifestyles.
“Fairplay is an illegal lock-in technology whose main purpose is to lock the consumers to the total package provided by Apple by blocking interoperability,” said Torgeir Waterhouse, senior advisor at the Norwegian Consumer Council, recently.
His declaration followed the revelation that, “German and French consumer groups are gearing up for a full frontal confrontation with Apple, demanding that it makes iTunes compatible with music players made by other companies,” p2pnet posted, continuing:
“Not good news for Apple which among other things, is being sued by an American user, and whose boss, Steve Jobs, has caught the eye of the Securities and Exchange Commission , not to mention the US Department of Justice, over document fraud problems.”
Previous actions have been, “the approval of France’s ‘Tunes Law,’ after Apple narrowly avoided the French courts over their FairPlay DRM back in 2004,” says Digital-Lifestyles.
However, “A Commission spokeswoman in Brussels confirmed Kuneva’s comment reported by the magazine but said it represented the commissioner’s personal views, not those of the Commission,” says Reuters, quoting spokeswoman Helen Kearns as stating, “I don’t think she was stating it as a definitive policy position. At this stage it is her gut instinct.”
It seems the only people who in the world who believe Apple DRM is acceptable are Jobs and his employees, and even Jobs is now trying to hang the blame on the Big 4 Organized Music cartel.
“Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free,” he said last month, going on:
“For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.”
Also See:
Digital-Lifestyles – EU Comments Add Pressure To Apple iTunes, March 12, 2007
p2pnet – Apple Fairplay DRM ‘illegal’, January 25, 2007
American user – Apple ‘monopoly’ case rolls on, January 4, 2007
caught the eye – Steve Jobs meets DoJ, SEC, January 24, 2007
Reuters – EU’s consumer chief takes aim at Apple over iTunes, March 12, 2007
DRM-free – Thoughts on Steve Jobs’ Thoughts, February 4, 2007
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Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
March 12th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
how come no one has noticed that any music in itunes can be burnt to cd. This cd can then be played on any cd player or imported to whatever music player you want.
its so easy to then copy this cd as it is just a regular cd.
of all the DRM infested **** i have come across Apples has been the most tolerable .