“Consumer groups in Germany, France, Norway and Finland have joined forces to step up pressure on Apple to loosen the tight ties between its iTunes online music store and iPod music player,” John Blau reports for IDG News Service.
Blau reports, “At the top of the list of demands is interoperability. ‘We want consumers who purchase music from the iTunes store to be able to copy that music directly to any device without having to go through several complex formatting procedures,’ Mrowka said.”
Blau reports, “The European consumer authorities don’t accept Apple’s argument that the music industry is the reason for the company’s restrictive DRM (digital rights management) policy. ‘We’re not against DRM per se,’ Mrowka said. ‘We accept that music companies need to protect their content. But there is no reason why DRM has to be linked to a single device.'”
Full article here.
Apple’s iTunes Store does not sell music with DRM that is linked to a single device. iTunes Store tracks can be played on iPods, Apple Macs, certain iTunes-compatible Motorola phones, and also Windows PCs. Is copying iTunes Store music directly to an also-ran device really any less complex than copying it to a blank CD? Hey, some people want Outlook, AutoCAD, and PC games to run directly on Mac OS X without having to dirty their Macs with Windows. Others would like websites that work not just in Internet Explorer, but in other browsers, too. Even more would like to see PlayStation, Wii, and Xbox games work interchangeably on all systems. Where are the consumer authorities for those people?
We must have missed the part where Apple held a gun to consumers’ heads and forced them to buy iPods and use iTunes and shop at the iTunes Music Store. You can use an iPod without using the iTunes Music Store. You can use the iTunes Music Store without using an iPod. So, how can either be anti-competitive?
Related articles:
Norway not satisfied with Apple concessions – August 02, 2006
Norwegian council reviews Apple response to Nordic iTunes complaints – August 01, 2006
Can Scandinavians really force Apple to change iTunes Store terms? – June 16, 2006
Scandinavian triumvirate extends deadline to August 1 for Apple to reply to iTunes concerns – June 14, 2006
Norway gives Apple until June 21 to change iTunes Music Store terms – June 12, 2006
Norway: iTMS DRM under scrutiny, Microsoft DRM next – June 09, 2006
Consumer Council of Norway files a complaint regarding Apple iTunes Music Store’s terms of service – January 27, 2006
Gutted French ‘iTunes law’ ends up solving nothing – August 01, 2006
French anti-iTunes law deemed unconstitutional – July 31, 2006
Parts of French ‘iPod Law’ struck down as unconstitutional – July 28, 2006
French lawmakers give final approval to watered-down ‘iTunes law’ – June 30, 2006
Apple awaits final approval of French DRM Legislation – June 23, 2006
French lawmakers agree to water down DRM bill that would affect Apple’s iTunes – June 21, 2006
It’s no wonder EMI is supporting Apple in France – May 23, 2006
EMI backs Apple on French DRM law – May 23, 2006
BusinessWeek: still very possible that Apple will close iTunes Music Store in France – May 12, 2006
French copyright bill approved: Apple will not have to share FairPlay DRM details with competitors – May 11, 2006
French Senate vote could offer loophole for Apple’s iTunes – May 09, 2006
Vive l’iTunes! French ‘state-sponsored piracy’ DRM law gutted in committee – May 01, 2006
Force open Apple’s FairPlay? What has possessed the French this time? – April 27, 2006
French Trade Minister: Apple’s iTunes must play fair in French music market – April 14, 2006
JP Morgan: French DRM law will have limited impact on Apple Computer – March 28, 2006
Dvorak: What the French got right with proposed DRM law – March 28, 2006
Will Apple’s Steve Jobs bid France adieu? – March 22, 2006
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
Just a thought, but wouldn’t it be nice for Microsoft if Apple had to allow different DRM’s. Which begs the question who is REALLY behind this..
I love a good conspiracy
@pfft:
Why haven’t you responded to “mudflapper”s question above? Cat got your tongue? (Or has the gross illogic of your position struck you dumb?)
What about M$ not making WMP 9 or 10 not mac-savvy? If you want to DL songs from any other online music company you have to buy a windows pc!! To me, that far outweighs Apple linking their music service to their iPods.
M$ provide very little Mac software. They even pulled IE because it was too much trouble. Not making WMP work on Macs is clearly a way to prevent Mac from competing.
I’m not sure I want to get into this discussion, but here goes… Bullet proof vest is now on…
I’m an iPod user and buy most of my new material via the iTunes Store (that is the name of it now, isn’t it?). Those are choices that I’ve made knowingly (I’m also old enough to have already bought a lot of my older favorites more than once on different media types (records, 8 Tracks & Cassettes).
I’m certainly not a defender of DRM, but I think until the content companies change their minds on this, it’s going to be a necessary evil… I, also, understand that Apple’s control over the whole process makes the product easier to use.
The following seems easy, but am I missing something…
“Let’s see. This is too complex for Europeans:
1. Burn to CD
2. Rip the CD
3. Load the non-iPod.”
I tried this once and it’s true that it works somewhat, the music is of lesser quality, but the real problem for me is that none of the album/track information was included.
DRM was forced on Apple by the record and movie industry. Apple did not develop it to block anyone. And as far as I know Apple is the only Mac/PC download site on the web. Hardly what I would call non-interoperable.
You can download music and then convert it to an mp3 which will play on any player. Why you would want any player other than an iPod is beyond me.
These people are apparently upset that using iTunes is too difficult. They must have missed the sign that says “You must be this tall to use iTunes.”
The European consumer group is on crack!!
“… But there is no reason why DRM has to be linked to a single device.”
I call bullsh*t on this. Apple has no obligation to generate a means for iPod competitors to get their content as easily as iPod users do. iTunes downloads are cheap, because Apple makes its profits from iPod hardware. The Music companies and artists together get the lion’s share of the iTunes download fees. As it stands — and as others have here posted — there ARE ways to get iTunes downloads onto other devices, albeit with some complexity.
I claim that Apple’s raison d’être is making things just work with ease for the consumer. I find the European socialist whine for Apple to save Apple’s competitors sorry asses to be pathetic and any attempt to coerce Apple into doing so is gangsterism.
it’s closed b/c it locks people in. as long as i hold apple shares, i would expect no less. business is to make money, not to be fair. it life were fair,we’dbe listening to 45 vinyl records still.
And if Apple does not comply (and Apple won’t comply), what are they going to do about it? I don’t think they can do much to “pressure” Apple. Apple is in the driver’s seat until (1) there is worthy competition for iPod and (2) there is worthy competition for the iTunes Store.
I suppose the consumer groups can advise that consumers buy a Zune instead. Oh right… that’s DRM that’s tied to “one device” too, except in the case of Zune, it really is just ONE DEVICE (in three colors).
I don’t think Apple should have to license Fairplay to any other hardware companies but I sort of wish they would—because people would still overwhelmingly choose iPods and anyone who tried to switch from an iPod to something else (I know, it’s a ridiculous thot, just work with me here.) would be back to an iPod in about 10 seconds.
Didn’t Norway already give Apple some goofy ultimatum last year, threatening to outlaw iTunes if they didn’t invite all the also-rans to the feast?
This sounds like the other mp3 player manufacturers have bought themselves a few burgomeisters to try and use the law to force unwilling consumers to make a choice that they obviously don’t want to make.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the Microsoft Zune hits the European market.
Steve Ballmer is sexy.
Welcome to the Social.
Okay, would the euro-bashing part of the US please take a breath, think quitely, so we in return could stop our just as juvenile US-bashing.
Now let’s get a few things set straight:
1. Europe is NOT socialist in majority. As a matter of fact, the largest factions in Europe generally speaking tend to be christian-democrats, which in Europe will likely be considered centre to right of centre, whereas Americans would consider these left of centre. What we Europeans view as the political centre simply is historically more left-wing to Americans, and what Americans view as the political centre will seem more right-wing to Europeans. It’s a fact one should consider in euro-US conversations, or comments of the above sort will always appear.
2. Europe has a tendency to force markets open to all market players and will prefer open standards. Unfortunately, this means they will always attack dominant market players, such as M$ in the OS market, and Apple in the PMP-market, and will not look if perhaps the smaller market players are actually the ones in fault, as is likely the case for the PMP-market, surely not in the OS market, however.
3. Because of Europe’s Windows-bashing lawsuits, M$ is no longer allowed to ship their OS with Window$MediaPlaya (yes, I’m not quite fond of Micro$oft), actually causing iTunes to gain popularity as a media player, especially for music files, as it is IMHO easier to manage your music files on iTunes.
4. Europe is generally in favour of open source software, because it seems the most likely option to achieve the open standards desired in point 2. In some governments, the open source-advocacy goes so far that parts of the administration are actually switching to Linux. This is mainly because they wanted to hurt M$ a whole lot more in the lawsuits against them, and of course, because Linux IS an open source OS.
5. Simply to avoid being interpreted as too biased: I am Belgian, pro-European, and social-democrat, likely liberal in US political terms, wich is left-wing in US, and left of centre in Europe. I personally prefer open source software like NeoOffice, but do like several “closed source” apps, mainly games (all hail to Blizzard for those), and believe “closed source” software can be very useful, especially if designed by Apple-like companies to increase ease of use. I switched to a Mac last year, and as such have grown ever more negative on Microsoft, especially Windows. I don’t hate or dislike Americans, I merely don’t like the Bush administration’s attitude in foreign matters, but hey, it’s up to the Americans to decide who they want in power, just as it’s up to us to decide when and whether or not Turkey can join the EU.
6. Thank you very much for reading my post, I apologize for my bad English, but it’s my third language, and of course, best wishes to all of you for the New Year or whatever is your religious equivalent holiday.
“anti-competitive concerns”
There is just no limit to people’s stupidity and insincerety…
“I am Belgian, pro-European, and social-democrat”
Euro-weenie?
One sentence,
Burn a CD!!!
I think even Windows idiots know how to do that.
BTW – Not all Windows users are idiots.
“”The European consumer authorities don’t accept Apple’s argument that the music industry is the reason for the company’s restrictive DRM (digital rights management) policy.”
Did you ask them? Please give me a list of all the major record labels that are volunteering to remove DRM from their music!
The MDN take is 100% correct. The FUD out there about the iPod is amazing! Just recently I heard from coworkers that the iPod battery is not replaceable – you have to buy a new iPod when it eventually dies! Oh, and did you know that you can only play music that you buy off the iTunes Store on your iPod? Yep, it doesn’t play plain old mp3 format. Sucks, doesn’t it?
Unbelievable lemmings.
“1. Burn to CD
2. Rip the CD
3. Load the non-iPod.”
It really amazes me that people find that complicated. You can do that all in within iTunes.
@Macster1: One can’t help being what he is, he can only try and live with it. So what are you?
@ZuneTang: You just keep getting funnier every comment you post. Just don’t try and squirt any of us…
They are suing the wrong people. The recording industry are the ones who are mandating use of DRM. No DRM, No music on iTunes from the majors. And since there was no DRM standard at the time, Apple had to create their own DRM standard. Only argument they might have is why Apple hasn’t licensed Fairplay to others. But why should Apple license their technology to its competitors? Without proving they have monopoly power, I see no case for it.
Compared to those uneducated whining Europeans,My boy Bart’s Mensa material. WOO-HOO!!
You guys don’t get it. It’s not DRM it’s Apple not providing the ability for other music services or players to use Fairplay.
And I’ll say it again – M$ lock out Mac users with WMP. Same deal.
Just cos Apple have the advantage at the moment, the EU are going after them. They should finish their work on M$ first before starting on a company that are providing the right solutions.