France Seeks To Separate iTunes And iPods

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

23 March 2006

In a 296-193 vote on Tuesday, France's National Assembly voted to force Apple Computer to allow the use of its iPod devices in conjunction with other music downloading services than its own iTunes.

The proposed changes to the country's copyright laws, which must now be approved by the Senate, would force the firm to provide its rivals with access to its digital rights management software (designed to prevent unauthorised use of copyrighted material), in order to allow iPod users to utilise other download providers.

According to a Reuters report on the vote this week, the ruling UMP party announced that:

"These clauses, which we hope will be taken up by other countries, notably at the European level, should prevent the emergence of a monopoly in the supply of online culture."

Although Apple has thus far declined to comment on the matter, some observers have suggested that the firm may exit the French market in order to protect the exclusive relationship between iPods and iTunes.

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