Slashdot Mirror
France Considers Anti-DRM 'iPod Law'
Asklepius M.D. writes "According to the Washington Post, France is contemplating legislation designed to 'to force compatibility between digital songs and the different machines that play them.' Known colloquially as the 'iPod bill', it is opposed by Apple, the Business Software Alliance, and others who refer to it as 'state-sponsored piracy.' Two versions of the bill have already passed France's Senate and National Assembly. From the article: 'Under the proposed law, Apple Computer Inc., Sony Corp., Dell Inc. and other companies could have to reveal trade secrets of their software so that their songs can play on competitors' devices.'"
Hmmmmmmmmmm. Betty. The cat did a whopsee in my beret.
Remember this is the country that considered a milk product manufacturer to be a "national champion", which has opposed the purchase of french companies by foreign companies, and has allowed state owned companies to take advantage of more liberal competition laws abroad.
If Apple was French do you think for a second they'd introduce this law?
You can argue one side or the other on the law in + and - but what you cannot argue about is that the French government have become ever more introverted in the last few years and campaigns against "globalisation", "market reforms" or anything else that aims to reduce the french unemployment rate is going to be opposed.
Opening things up? When they liberalise their laws around energy and yoghurt produces then fair enough, but until then its just hypocrisy.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Sorry but what does your rant have to do with MSFT providing support for non-windows platforms? This bill would do nothing to "force" them.
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
I despise the French more. So F-off you cheese eatin', surrender monkeys!