Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft, OD2 Start European Music Service

Posted by michael on from the cash-cow dept.

useosx writes "Reuters is reporting that 'Microsoft Corp. announced on Thursday a pact with Europe's biggest digital music outfit, OD2, to form the continent's first major a la carte online download service. ... The move marks the first time European consumers can purchase song downloads off the Internet for under one euro ($1.13), and without requiring a monthly subscription, bringing the fee in line with the popular Apple Computer iTunes service, which is not yet available in Europe.'" Other stories: the Guardian, BBC.

1 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Piracy in Europe by Alkarismi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm British - does that count? - already had one poster cast doubts on my European Credentials :)

    Truth is, as Andrew Orlowski points out on the Reg
    "Europeans have learned that the law and its social instruments are best ignored"

    When it's a 'bad' law of course ;)

    You could also say that we're naturally anti-gov and anti-bigBiz.

    I think the key, though, is that we simply haven't been hit by the DMCA/DRM/PIRACY/TERRORISTS hysteria yet - unfortunately it appears to be coming RSN :(
    I don't look forward to getting caught up in the nightmare my USA brethren appear to have got themselves in - just wish enough of my fellow Europeans knew enough, or cared enough, to head it off *before* it arrives - chances of that fading fast...

    Just my 0.02