“French lawmakers want all digital-music players to adopt common software standards. Is this Jobs & Co.’s cue to pack up its iPods and bid the country adieu? The French have done it again. In an attempt to update copyright laws for the 21st century, lawmakers in France have thrown a giant spanner in the works of the nascent online digital music business. Late on Mar. 21, the lower house of the legislature, the Assemblé National, passed a law that will require sellers of digital-music players and online music services in France to open up their technical standards and become entirely interoperable,” Arik Hesseldahl writes for BusinessWeek.
“The law, passed by the National Assembly by a vote of 296 to 193, requires companies that sell digital-music files in France to open up their digital rights management systems so that the files can be played on any device. The law, if ultimately enacted, may set the stage for Apple to shut down its digital-music sales operations in the country, though Apple hasn’t said one way or the other if that is the case,” Hesseldahl writes. “Apple has sold more than a billion songs worldwide since launching the online service in 2003. But its songs are playable only on the ubiquitous iPod portable music player.”
MacDailyNews Note: iTunes Music Store songs are also playable on any Mac or Windows personal computer. You do not even need an iPod to purchase and listen to music from Apple’s iTunes Music Store. As has always been the case, purchased songs can be burned to music CD and imported into any device.
Hesseldahl continues, “…The nuclear option: Pull iTunes out of France entirely. The potential of boosting sales of iTunes downloads, on which Apple makes only a few pennies, at the cost of losing sales of iPods, on which Apple can make a 50% margin, isn’t much of a business trade-off. ‘Remember that the iPod drives iTunes downloads, not the other way around,’ says Michael Gartenberg, analyst with Jupiter Research in New York.”
Full article here.
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Related articles:
Wired’s Kahney: Proposed French copyright protection law a good thing for consumers in the long run – March 22, 2006
Apple calls proposed French DRM law ‘state-sponsored piracy,’ predicts iPod sales increase – March 21, 2006
French National Assembly approves digital copyright bill; could affect Apple’s FairPlay DRM – March 21, 2006
The bill won’t pass into law. Hollywood will bitch to the upper house, and even if they should pass the law, the E.U. will strike it down.
I played iTunes music for years without an iPod — only got one when it sprouted video abilities. Pleased I did, but too soon before.
Either way, do the French lawmakers actually ‘get’ the playing options with iTunes?
Maybe MDN should go tell them…
It is amazing to me that these idiot politicians cannot see the eventual outcome of this action. France seems to be populated by children these days. And I don’t mean that as a broad insult. It just seems that their lawmaking actions are naive an based on petulance rather than logic. Look at the riots that have been going on over a law that loosens regulations for hiring, paying and firing younger workers. The unions are going berzerk and rioting because employers shouldn’t be allowed to fire anyone without an act of the National Assembly. Great food and wine, beautiful country, but their politics are nuttier than ours.
DJ-
Sadly, lawmakers rarely understand what they are doing when they craft a law. Consider the numerous recent American examples of bad laws: the Drug plan, the Bankruptcy bill.
American copyright law is considered to be badly out of date.
Spark-
Again, how is that different than the United States lawmakers? They haven’t exactly won awards for maturity.
“mysewer Jobs, you silly English pig dog, we are Frensh, I fart in yor genral direcshun, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time”
Not to be mean but it’s about time. Apple should open up fairplay to other companies in both software and hardware market. Apple has a monopoly like MSFT and is controlling it just as tightly as MSFT does.
of course no other software company is going to have the simple interface, or work as well as iTunes/iPod, so I don’t think either will go anywhere.
And iTunes music, isn’t playable on any other portable player. the iPod may be the best but it isn’t alone nor should it be. i thought we lived in a captialist society yet I guess I was wrong.
Either way, do the French lawmakers actually ‘get’ the playing options with iTunes?
This is what you get when a socialist government tries to interfere with the free operation of business competition. They will always enact a law that has the exact opposite result they intended. That’s because government can’t control economies. At best they can only influence them.
Better the French socialists work to dismantle the French socialist economy and allow people to get back to work.
Apple can win this by just declaring war on France. Apple will then probably be given large estates for executives in Versailles.
That´s what Apple gets for selling white iPods in France.
The French thought Apple was making fun of their national symbol – the white surrender flag.
Apple won’t pull out of France. Get ready for the AAC revolution.
Spark:
You might want to edjumacate yourself a little gooder about those protests. They are happening because the bill, which takes effect next month, “allows employers to fire workers younger than 26 in the first TWO YEARS on the job, without citing a reason”:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060321/ap_on_re_eu/france_jobs_and_dreams_2
If I was under the age of 27 and living in France, I’d be protesting a ridiculous law like that. Would you?
Mac-Yak,
If I’m a private employer, and as long as its not a “discriminatory” firing (based on race, religion, etc) why shouldn’t I have the right to fire somebody who works FOR ME for whatever reason I want? Why should they have a legal shield that prevents me from getting rid of the “dead wood”?
And always have been. They are contrarians of the worst kind, mostly being different just to be different.
They are also the type that talk a good game, but fail or cave-in when the going gets tough. Want a good laugh? Type in French Military Victories on a Google Search and then hit the I’m Feeling Lucky Button.
The French are expert at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
To Jimmy JJ
Remember when the US surrendered in Vietnam ! And will soon surrender in Irak !
The US never surrendered in Vietnam.
Jimmy JJ,
You’re an idiot. When was the last time any Americans stood up for their rights like the French students are doing now? America has become a land of stupid sheep who allow big corporations to own them. Talk about surrendering, we no longer even think of resisting anything–swallowing lies from the worst president ever, etc. What’s good for business is good for society, you think.
B-Sabre:
You said:
“…why shouldn’t I have the right to fire somebody who works FOR ME for whatever reason I want?”
Re-read the post, for God’s sake. The bill says people 26 and younger can be fired Without Cause — that means “without a reason” — within the first Two Years.
This is a retarded law, and your comprehension skills are atrocious.
like the one you used when you ran away from Vietnam ?
They’re spoiled in France. That’s why their economy’s in the shitter. Socialism works great when you don’t have to worry about paying for a substantial military and can concentrate on making your people fat and happy with no effort on their part. Problem is it ignores market forces and artificially props up the economy. As we’ve seen before, it’s only a matter of time before the whole mess collapses upon itself. We’ve been protecting them from the Russians and Germans since WWII, now that that threat is lessened (not gone, just lessened), I wonder what France (and other European countries with Socialist leanings) will do…
I think Apple will pull the ITMS out of France if this goes thru. I heard it’s called the Vivendi/Universal law because that scummy company basically bought the nessecary polititians to get the law passed. It will happen here eventually, as well, since it doesn’t appear to difficult to buy a few Senators and Congressmen (or President) nowadays. Soon, we won’t have any rights at all.
Oh well.
Don’t worry about this, the French will surrender. They always do.
I don’t think Apple will give out it’s DRM code to anyone, not even the French. So if it means pulling iTunes out, so be it. Re-encoding everything into plain MP3 for over a million and a half song library would take a lot of time and resources so I don’t think that would be an option either. Then there is the contract with the record labels stating that DRM encoding must be on every track sold. How do the French propose to get around a legal binding contract that Apple has with the record labels? I really don’t think the record labels will tolorate this either.
the French are stupid. They won’t be missed on the world stage
you will know that the French will have completed the cycle. Not only can they not defeat an enemy, they are losing their own country.
^
Yeah, good job in Iraq. heh.
^
The French were 100% right, while the US was 100% wrong.
It’s funny how some Mac users think they’re so “enlightened” because of the computer they use. Then some of them turn around and call the French “surrender monkeys” who are “losing their country” and yet they know nothing about them or the issues.
Some Mac users are hypocritical fools.
Why are the record companies keeping quiet?
Why do they leave this fight to Apple?
What is for sure is that France is very ill indeed. They see this as a way to try and unravel the success of the enemy. And in this and other things they always they take the easy option and give in to popular opinion. There is very little in the way of leadership. Chirac is on a 35% popularity rating, the same as Bush.
They are developing a French version of Google and they actively disallow ownership of any significant French business by overseas companies. Viz the takeover of the the steel business Arcelor by Mittal… Yet French utilities own UK water companies and other big, important interests.
French leaders are fearfull of their voters, their students, their farmers, the US, the UK, Google and Apple. I really hope they don’t prosper…
what goddam business it is for the french gov’t?
i think they should be thinking about more important issues, but yes it is a way for them to be different for difference sakes. and thats why they are doing it.
“iTunes Music Store songs are also playable on any Mac or Windows personal computer”
They are also playable on my home stereo via Airport Express. (or CD)
iPods already have a universal format. It’s called mp3.
If the record companies don’t want to sell music in that format who’s fault is that?
It also plays mp4.
Whoever governs France, whatever their political colour, will ALWAYS lean towards socialism. The French will never see a government that allows even a relatively free market. The unions in France have all the power, as they did before Thatcher in the UK, and regularly hold the government to ransom. They are apparently productive, but until recently had a maximum working week of 35 hours! What? If the French think they are so productive they can cram a 65+ hour week into 30 hours they are drinking too much vino. There was a time not long ago when I was working 90+ a week so I could get the work done.
If you think French employees in the private sector are lazy just see the long lunches government workers take! I have a friend who works for local government in England and he happily admits to doing hardly anything. He works maybe 20 hours a week and the rest is spent drinking coffee and playing computer games.
It says that the 35 hour week was popular. Damn right it was!
France, sucez mes boules
Responses to my critics:
duper: I stated that French politicians are “nuttier than ours” which implies that our politicians are nuts too, just less so.
mak yak: I know what the French law states and I think it is ludicrous that there should be an expectation of permanent employment even if you are drag on the company that hired you. The barriers to dismissing a employee in France are very high. Because of this companies are hiring as few people as possible BECAUSE IT IS SO DAMN HARD TO GET RID OF A MISTAKE. This is ultimately bad for those under 27 crowd that the law was designed to actually HELP. It’s the entitlement mentality of wealthy nations that is creating the dreaded outsourcing issue. Plenty of people around the world are grateful for employment and work hard to prove their worth. Others riot in the streets because a job is not alloted as a birthright.
Spark:
Ha. Did they French ever do anything as nutty as the ridiculous “freedom fries” incident?
Also, your point about employment is irrelevant. If you are a drag on your company, then they have a reason to fire you. The protests are against a law that allows employers to fire without reason.
Everyone who has said the french government is socialist are not getting it.
In short, its not about being “entitled” to anything but a REASON for being fired. Understood?
G7- the world’s strongest economies, in no particular order and in no particular shitter:
Japan
Canada
UK
US
France
Germany
Italy
Socialist?! Far from it. Actually, what the French legislators are attempting to do is good, old fashioned, Republican Party Teddy Roosevelt-style trust busting.
That being said, I hope they fail. Apple’s music monopoly has a back door: Burning CDs, burns away DRM.
In the ’80s the French weren’t playing by the same rules either. I don’t remember what exactly it was that they embargoed or tariffed but there was some product of America’s that they didn’t like. The part I do remember is that Reagan said, “Oh OK. Then we won’t allow your friggin’ wine into this country.” The French raised the white flag within hours and it was business as usual. Big surprise. As an aside it took them three years to name their stadium for the World Cup. And what bit of intellectual and creative genius sprang forth from their collective minds after three years of protracted battles? Stade de France – Stadium of France…
These people are out there. Their national icon is Jerry Lewis and they love the accordion, they sit around discussing politics like we discuss sports, they don’t work out when they go to their health clubs and socialism is the only form of government they will acknowledge. They pretend to be cerebral and tolerant yet appear to be anything but (nationally). Let ’em have their own music service. Apple should pull out.
MDN Magic Word? Truth – no kidding!
It goes both ways : what about the steel tariffs ?
“…Then some of them turn around and call the French “surrender monkeys” who are “losing their country” and yet they know nothing about them or the issues.”
The French have offered some wonderful things to the world:
Great Cuisine, Hot Women, great wine and Cool, liberal attitudes toward sex and cigarettes to name but a few of the many cool things to come out of there.
But it is really annoying when the whole country seems to have a Second-City mentality toward the USA. I can understand why they hate to be reminded of the fact that we saved them from having to learn German and learn to drink Beer over wine (That applies to the Brits, as well; though to a lesser extent) but the fact is, it’s almost as if France resented the US for liberating them and protecting them ever since.
the most funny in a way, is that Americans began to call the French cowards and surrender monkeys when the French refused to kowtow to the mightiest power on Earth, the USA…
Tooshaieay Citizen of the Earth! (While I will use the word I will basterdise it in any way that I can)
Haw: My thinking too… although their women could use a Schick Quattro run under their arms every now and then. But the world wouldn’t turn without some cultural differences. And where would any country’s healthcare systems be without the obligatory funding from the tobaccy industry? Second City? That was right on the money!
But as far as reminding them about pulling their fat out of the fire… well, it sounds to me that if that is the case then it is not us reminding them. It must be their collective consciousness’ that is racked with guilt over their surrender(s). No, we are looked at as bullies by many countries simply because we espouse different values and fight for them (and have the ability to fight for them). They hate us when we open our mouths and love us when we’re covering their backs (though not even then sometimes). The rich and powerful will always have their detractors and enemies among the poor and weak. Just as they will always have their supporters. I am not going to argue who is right and who is wrong. Only that a good portion of the world stands behind the US and a good portion doesn’t. Seems to be the way it’s been since the beginning of time. And anyone who thinks that Americans are the only people who are egocentric are themselves more close minded than any American ever could be.
Excelsior!
That’s right, France stood up to the USA and didn’t back down over Iraq. We sheep-like Americans went along with our idiot preznit and his incomprehensible war (and defecit, etc.) and before long, in fact very soon, Bush was going to the UN with his hat in his hand and crying that Europe wasn’t “stepping up to the plate” to help rebuilding Iraq and it was their “duty” to do more to help.
Talk about hypocritical. Talk about gall. Talk about backing down from the “GO IT ALONE!” cowboy bullshit.
Haw, why is it that a large percentage of you Yanks think you arrived like the 7th Cavalry charging in to save our bacon?
Even in 1940 Dear old Winnie knew that you lot would have to be dragged screaming into WW2 and that it was your material might ie hardware capabilities from the factories that would save the day as opposed to anything else. Here is the end of his Dunkirk speech (where we’d been kicked out of France and at our lowest ebb) in which he made it clear German was unlikely to ever be sprache in der UK and Pal Dolfo would never make it even if he was serious about invading….. Moreover, I think your Mr Bush might have trouble getting beyond the first word of this speech….today.
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
So stop thinking you’re so great, cos to be honest the only 2 sides in this from start to finish where us & the Germans.
And MacWrath hate the French because since the sixties they said to the US “No, thank you, we’ll cover our asses ourselves”.
Btw, since the French are cowards, surrender monkeys, unreliable, smelly, why in hell do you want them with you in Iraq ? And if you don’t want them, why in hell are you angry ?
OK, I’m fed up with these bashing fests, I had my dose of stupid ugly Americans for the month, maybe for the year. I’ll leave you with your ilk, bathing in the glorious certitude that only US knows the right, do the right, is the bestest in all the worlds, and that other people shouldn’t have the gall to do things differently when you don’t want it.
Adios.
I’ll shut the door, thank you.
By the way, I think that from now on, I’ll be “Citizen of the Earth, except the USA”.
So some people on this board want to remind the French of how grateful they should be?
The French assisted the liberation from England that later became the United States of America.
A French sculptor made that enduring symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty.
Yet some Americans like to forget that they have been helped and honoured by those they say they despise.
MW: They are BAD people who aren’t worth the air they breathe.
The United States is fun and neat.
yay.
Chris
The United States used to be fun and neat. Not so much anymore.
boo.
Mac-Yak,
I understand just fine. “Whatever reason” includes “no reason at all.” A slightly less legalistic way of saying “without cause.” Maybe I didn’t like the shirt you’re wearing today. Maybe I was just in a bad mood. Whatever. Why should I have to make a big production out of firing somebody who I’m paying?
B-Sabre: in France there will now be a two tiered system–employment at will for the young, full socialist protections for those over 26. In country where job prospects for younger people are already slim–twice the unemployment rate–this is real problem. Notice that France didn’t try to put in employment at will for all workers, just ones under 26.
B-Sabre:
If you have ever employed anyone, you would know that you can’t just give any stupid reason for termination of employment — past a defined probation period. The termination has to be reasonable and justifiable, otherwise you expose yourself to the risk of a lawsuit from the person you just turfed because you didn’t “like their shirt.”
People over the age of 12 who have been employed by someone other than a family member understand this concept. Yet you seem to have difficulty grasping the idea.
You want to know what the real problem is here with these comments that I see. You people really think that what you say is important. WOW! the world really does revolve around your belly-buttons. NO soup for You!!!
Dare I piss into the wind of so many global and policy experts? One minute it’s the socialsts ruining France, next it’s the capitalists buying the votes to pass a bill to favour their self-interest. Perhaps, just perhaps it’s all a load of Beck’s Cognitive Distortion and the issues are neither black or white. I mean really, what is the point of government if they cannot pass laws to protect their citizens, if they allow Apple, or America or Private industry to be the only bully in the playground?
I think it’s great that France is standing up to an Apple gone bad. It’s great because it means that in the future maybe I won’thave to use Audio Hijack to convert my purchased library of songs into mp3 to enable playback on my home stereo system. I can’t wait to use Windows on a mactel, or YellowDog, and whatever else I fancy. I can’t wait to access all the games and VST plugins and other audio software. I love OSX, but I have no delusions about Apple’s aggressive market-grabbing tactics and their loss of innocence. I look forward to a day when computing is so advanced and so distributed that no one can control anything, when we have an anarchy of reason, when technology renders obselete the final trappings of our mamalian stupor, just as the industrial revelution did to the family, the enlightenment did to religion, and so on.
And naturally what I say is of no import, I’m just practising at being mollycoddled middle class and expressing myself like a spoilt child, but isn’t that what the internet is for?