Nordic regulators vs Apple
2pnet.net News:- Amazingly, not one, but four, separate countries are still arguing with a single US corporation which peddles music players loaded with DRM (digital restrictions management) Consumer Control technology to confine users to listening only to music dictated by the company.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland have been threatening America’s Apple Computer with heavy fines because local buyers of iTunes, Apple’s iPod front-loading application, aren’t able to play songs on anything other than iPods, violating consumer protection laws.
Now, European officials say they’ve had “good and constructive dialogue” with Apple over restrictions it imposes on iTunes users, says Reuters.
However, says the story, a complete solution to the problem would mean that Apple seek major changes to its iTunes business model.
Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon said the goal of Monday’s meeting with Apple representatives from the United States, Britain and Belgium was to discuss ways to resolve the dispute other than legal action, says the Canadian Press.
“I am sure whatever result we reach will be closely watched internationally,” Thon said. “There has been important movement in the case.”
The regulators, “met in Iceland last month to discuss a 50-page response from the Cupertino, Calif.-based company, which dominates the market for portable music players,” says CP, adding:
“Apple defended its right to code iTunes Music Store songs so they can be played only on iPods.
“The Nordic regulators also opposed some of iTunes’ Internet contract terms, such as its contention that British law applies. Thon said companies in Norway serving the nation’s consumers cannot apply another country’s laws.
“The regulators also objected to a clause in the same contract giving iTunes the right to change terms of purchase without notice, even after a sale,” although according to Thon, that issue has now been resolved so that “that terms of purchase cannot be changed for purchases that have already been made, only for future ones”.
Also See:
Reuters – Nordic agencies say Apple talks “constructive”, September 26, 2006
Canadian Press -Nordic regulators meet Apple in challenge of iTunes music download rules, September 29, 2006
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September 29th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
It funny in a way, Apple loves using the law to bully anyone it like. Now governments which you can not buy want to have a go at them.