Posted on 03/22/2006 5:38:46 AM PST by Brilliant
Apple Computer Inc. blasted an effort by French lawmakers that could force Apple to make its iPod and iTunes Music Store work with digital music products from other companies...
Lawmakers in the National Assembly, France's lower house, on Tuesday approved a bill by a vote of 296-193 that aims to require Apple to open the digital-music format used by the iPod and iTunes to other companies, along with similar technologies from others companies like Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp.
The bill, if it passes into law after going to the French Senate for a vote, could force Apple, of Cupertino, Calif., to make songs it sells through iTunes in France work on digital-music players other than the iPod and, similarly, to allow songs purchased on music sites other than iTunes work on the iPod. Such an outcome would present a challenge to a closed system that has helped Apple strengthen its position in digital music, analysts believe.
But Apple said the French action will result in "state-sponsored piracy" by encouraging French users to seek out illegally copied music.
"If this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customers," Apple said in the statement. "IPod sales will likely increase as users freely load their iPods with 'interoperable' music which cannot be adequately protected. Free movies for iPods should not be far behind in what will rapidly become a state-sponsored culture of piracy," the company said.
Analysts on Tuesday speculated that Apple might simply abandon the French market with its music products rather than comply...
Under the bill, companies would be required to reveal the secrets of hitherto-exclusive copy-protection technologies such as Apple's FairPlay format and the ATRAC3 code used by Sony's Connect store and Walkman players...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
This illustrates what I've been saying for years, which is that the Europeans use the antitrust laws as a tool for penalizing foreign (primarily US) companies. It's their way of circumventing GATT.
Apple should threaten to invade France, that would put an end to this real quickly.
I'm composing an e-mail to Apple with some advice on how to respond. In that context I need to know how to say "Stick it where the sun don't shine" in French.
I wonder how France plans to enforce this. I'm not aware of any Apple corp. facilities in France. I would love to see Apple threaten to shut down their retail operations in France.
I don't get it. I never have.
Why don't they tell the French to shove it and tell them to go ahead and pass the law.
I would love to see Apple threaten to shut down their retail operations in France.
Apple May Sacrifice France For Exclusivity
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1600877/posts
Providence?
Here you go, compliments of babelfish.
Collez-l'où le soleil ne brillent pas
True. The Euros also use environmental rules (and fears) in the same way. They are really a pitiful bunch.
This is what socialism does to a formerly cultured land, which used to be a world leader in science as well as art. Now their youth are rioting because they think that it is unfair that an employer be empowered to fire worthless young employees.
Apple owns the iPod name but it doesn't own the technology for making itty bitty music players. France will, true to its nature, make a knockoff for home consumption.
The oui-Pod?
Gates or France , what's the difference?
Job's closed system mentality always results in this sort of thing...you would think he wouldn't piss away this second chance he received from God. :)
I wonder if it will look like the Citron?
Is France going to block all internet access to Apple servers and retailers of Apple products?
Frankly, I don't think Job's strategy is fair competition. On the other hand, you can be damn sure that if Apple were a French company, they would not be passing this law. They only do this kind of thing to stick it to foreign companies, especially US companies.
I agree that Apple has the right to force you to buy their hardware if you want to use their software (which has been the way they always do things), but they are missing out on a huge opportunity to make money selling music and or software. Since I don't like their way of doing business, I choose to not support Apple with my money. That is how free markets work.
I would surmise that most French aren't interested in, say, American rap or British rock, but rather in material of French origin. Thus, they can solve that problem rather easily.
If France is a sovereign nation, it can DO this. Copyright is a monopoly created by government, it is not a natural right.
Yes he will. Someone will make a more universal system available and Apple will once again be left in the 10-15% share of the market. Sometimes greed can cost you big.
It's Apple' s Macintosh marketing model. It has garnered about 13% of the computer market. A comfortable niche but not a resounding success. I think the exclusivity of Apple products is holding back iTunes, but it is Apple's choice, not the French government's.
If they pass this law and Apple withdraws from the French market some fortunate sons are going to make some dough supplying the demand!
I was speaking in terms of morality, not legality.
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