Apple in court over UK iTunes pricing

The Office of Fair Trading has referred Apple's iTunes service to the European Commission following a complaint that British customers are being overcharged.

UK iTunes users currently pay 79p per track, compared to 68p for German and French users. The disparity is even more pronounced in North America, where US customers pay 53p and Canadians just 45p.

Apple refused to comment to vnunet.com at the time of going to press.

The company has, however, settled its pricing spat with the Band Aid Trust. Apple had refused to sell Do they know it's Christmas? for more than 79p, whereas the Trust's price to raise money for famine relief is £1.49.

Apple has agreed to sell the track at its standard price and pay the additional 70p itself.