p2pnet - rss feed: Norway escalates iTunes DRM battle
p2pnet news view DRM | Music:- It’ s been a while since there’s been an update on Norway’s long battle with Apple over the latter’s iTunes DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control system.
iTunes is in effect the online loader for Apple iPods, paid for by users, and Norway has been foremost in the battle to force the company allow anyone who’s willing to fork out $1 (or more) for iTunes music to to be able to play it on any device, not just iPods.
Now Norway’s consumer ombudsman Erik Thon is taking Apple to Norway’s market council, which has the power to force companies to change their trade practices, says The Guardian, going on:
“Thon contends that it is a consumer right to be able to play music that they buy on any device, whereas Apple customers will find the majority of their downloads from the iTunes Store will work only on Apple devices; they use their own proprietary AAC file format, although consumers can opt to pay more for the open MP3 format. (To clarify: It’s the Apple DRM on top of the AAC that locks tracks into Apple, and also the premium open format is AAC, not MP3.)”
Two years ago, “Europe began a concerted effort to have Apple open iTunes so that purchased tracks could be played on any music player, not just the iPod,” notes ZDNet, adding:
“According to the report Apple has until 03 November 2008 to respond to the complaint, although Thon doesn’t expect the Market Council to decide on the case sometime early next year.”
or more - Apple cuts UK iTune download rates, January 9, 2008
The Guardian - Apple iTunes under attack over consumer rights in Norway, September 29, 2008
ZDNet - Norway to challenge closed iTunes model, September 29, 2008
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