The French Trade Minister has claimed that Apple should have expected resistance
France challenges Apple to iTunes face-off
/v3-uk/news/1981393/france-challenges-apple-itunes
15 Apr 2006, Tom Sanders in California , V3
Legislation that will force Apple to relinquish control of its Fairplay digital rights management (DRM) technology is inevitable, according to French Trade Minister Christine Lagarde.
A report by the Reuters news agency quoted Lagarde as saying that Apple should have anticipated the legislation that France is about to adopt.
"Anytime a company restricts competition in a market it gets the attention of regulating agencies. We have to play by the rules of the game," Lagarde told Reuters.
The French National Assembly adopted a copyright reform bill in March that prohibits DRM technology from blocking any "legitimate use" by consumers, such as restricting content to a single brand or model of media player.
The law would force major changes on Apple as well as its competitors such as Sony and Microsoft.
Apple's control over its Fairplay DRM technology has allowed it to become a dominant player in the markets for digital music downloads and media players.
Apple has lashed out against the law and said that it would lead to "state-sponsored piracy".
It has been suggested that Apple could respond by retreating from the French market. But Lagarde argued that the region is too important for Apple to ignore.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Freedom of Rights
All those who think a company has the right to tell you what to buy or to only use their gear has no right to trade, the UK parliament give any company especialy the US to bulldoze consumers and their FREEDOM, remember the US is only interested in monopalizing the world, cobblers to the indevidual.
Posted by Joe, 24 Apr 2006
Well done to France!
We can still rely on France to stand up for civil rights and consumer freedom at least!
If Apple and the others are left to their own devices, very soon I will only be able to play Apple-bought music on an Apple-bought device, or Sony music on Sony-approved devices, I will have to pay every time I want to look at a scene on a DVD, and before you know it I will have to pay every minute I am using a computer for the right to use the operating system, then why not a penny for every web page I visit (I am effectively paying my ISP for that anyway)...
It will increase the hassle and inconvenience of technology that is supposed to make things easier for people if DRM carries on.
Posted by Mike Llewellyn, 17 Apr 2006
Another freebie, huh?
Sigh. If you don't want it, don't BUY it. Apple is free to do with their product what they want. One thing I would do: Leave France.
Posted by Jim, 19 Apr 2006