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French Parliament Fights iPod and iTunes

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the to-the-pain dept.

f00lforb00l writes "According to an article in New York Times, the French parliament is considering legislation which would require that the iPod also be able to use music from services other than the iTunes Store." From the article: "The outcome of the debate, which began as an update to French copyright law, is far from clear. But taken to one logical conclusion, amendments to the copyright bill could lead Apple, the market leader, to leave the French music business, said Jonathan Arber, a research analyst in London at the technology consultancy Ovum. 'My gut feeling is that Apple will simply pull out of France if these amendments get through,' Mr. Arber said. 'Weighed against breaking their business model for all markets, it doesn't make sense for Apple to continue operating with the iPod and iTunes in France.'" Update: 03/17 15:46 GMT by Z : A previous story covering this topic may also be of interest to you. Sorry, folks.

12 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Vive la difference! by igb · · Score: -1, Troll
    For those not attuned to the cultural flow, this is just the French getting upset about Le Rock and Roll, and wanting a music service that is more Johnny Hallyday focussed. Apple's crime is not in being a monopoly, it's in being American.

    ian

  2. Nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Nice to see that there's at least one country in the world that appears to have a clue what the word "freedom" means.

  3. Help me fellow Slashdotters! by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 0, Troll

    I'm not sure what to think. Please help me out with a little groupthink. Do I hate Apple here because of anti-competitive business practices with their non-open hardware, or do I hate the French because they are enemies of Apple? Or do I love the French because they hate George Bush?

    1. Re:Help me fellow Slashdotters! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Well, John Kerry wants America to be more like the French so, choose your side wisely.

      Personally, after seeing something like this I hope America NEVER becomes like the French. Want to be French-like? Just wave a white flag and turn your nose up.

  4. Frenchies by CSHARP123 · · Score: -1, Troll

    Frenchies are trying to kill apple and make MS a monopoly here. By bringing these amendments MS WMA format will become ubiquitous. MS may be happy with this development

  5. Overregulation reduces customer choice by cryfreedomlove · · Score: -1, Troll

    This example shows well what could happen when government clumsily interferes with a free market. The number of products and services are reduced. Consumers lose. France has yet to learn that lesson. Another recent example is the grief that the French president is getting by trying to introduce at will employment for folks under 26. If he fails, the net result will be fewer jobs and higher unemployment.

  6. the french fighting? by b17bmbr · · Score: -1, Troll

    all apple has to do is speak german to them. they'll surrender in a moment!! then they'll work with apple to impose iPods on everyone, round up anyone who doesn't use one, and turn them over to apple. and, they'll make a cozy place for apple reps to visit. of course a few will resist, and they'll far more credit than they deserve.

    --
    My problem? I was perfectly gruntled, until some numbnuts came by and dissed me.
  7. Stupid by Lord+Bitman · · Score: 1, Troll

    Just don't make it illegal to modify the iPod (or any other device) to allow it to play "other" media. End of story.

    Governments seem to half-get things all the time :)

    "Forcing people to act a certain way is bad.. "
    "Agreed"
    "So we should force different people to act a different way!"

    Given a thousand cheese-eating surrender monkeys at a thousand typewriters.. eventually they'll come up with a sensible legal system? I suppose somebody thought it was a worthy experiment.

    --
    -- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
  8. And this..... by Mayhem178 · · Score: 0, Troll
    1. iPod and iTunes invades France
    2. French Parliament Fights iPod and iTunes
    3. 20 minutes later, France surrenders to iPod and iTunes
    4. iPod and/or iTunes pisses off the U.S.
    5. U.S. stomps iPod and iTunes
    6. France claims victory
    7. Later, rinse, repeat on 10 year intervals
    --

    "You will pay for your lack of vision..." - Emperor Palpatine to Ray Charles

  9. Monopolies are great! by 3mpire · · Score: 0, Troll

    Monopolies are ok just as long as the box they ship them in is pretty! "You are limiting my choice ase a consu.... oooooooh Aqua!"

  10. 20% unemployment for ppl under 25? by kaufmanmoore · · Score: 0, Troll

    Somehow I think France has bigger issues, stupid frogs.

  11. Wow by Androclese · · Score: 0, Troll

    The French are being really French, even for the French.

    --
    Redundant Humor: See Redundant Humor