EU says its probe of Apple's itunes limited to pricing

[MacBytes]

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Category: News and Press Releases
Link: EU says its probe of Apple's itunes limited to pricing (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20060323093602)
Description:: The European Commission is probing Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) over the pricing of music sold by its iTunes online store, but not its interoperability with other online music software.

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
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[yankeefan24]

I never realized how much more expensive it is outside of the US.

[bigandy]

does this include VAT though? because that's 17.5%, which almost makes up for the difference....

[yankeefan24]

does this include VAT though? because that's 17.5%, which almost makes up for the difference....

forgot about that very high tax. it probably does.

[Damien]

does this include VAT though? because that's 17.5%, which almost makes up for the difference....

No, France has a very high sales tax as well. I think its actually more. It is a fact of life UK users pay more for products most of the time. In fact we have a lower tax compared to the rest of the EU

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax#EU_countries

Germany 16%
UK: 17.5%
France: 19.6%
Italy: 20%
Ireland: 21%
Sweden: 25%

So no, we have a low sales tax ( a lot of people say its higher, but they usually have a axe to grind against the government). Apple are just taking advantage of the UK market. They store the music in luxumborg as well so it is not to do with operating costs as Apple may claim

[whooleytoo]

I can handle the high prices, it's the lack of content that bugs me - no TV shows, no free content, fewer songs.

[Damien]

I can handle the high prices, it's the lack of content that bugs me - no TV shows, no free content, fewer songs.

I agree. I do not mind the pricing. I get so annoyed to see exclusive content on the American store so stuff i would like

[solvs]

Apple are just taking advantage of the UK market.
You mean the recording industry in the UK is taking advantage of the market. Whatever version of the RIAA you guys have over there. I doubt much of that money is going into Apple's pockets. Not to mention the fact that if you used Euros, it'd probably be ~1 Euro instead of the ridiculously high price you're currently paying. Not that I'm saying the UK should, just the way it is.

I don't know why you don't have extra content, but I assume Apple just doesn't want to deal with the licensing issues at this point.