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EU iTunes Antitrust Probe
- Thread starter BoyBach
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I'm sick of probes...
... I want legislation! I'm sick of Apple screwing us Europeans. The whole thing is a rip off. I hate the principals espoused by the WTO but on this occasion I'd like to hold big business to them. They are limiting me through unfair and restrictive practices from buying music from the Canadian store where I believe they pay 0.99 CAD which is 0.65 euro or 44 pence. As far as I understand the heavy handed principals of globalisation this kind of protected market is illegal. As for anyone about to mount a copyright licence counter argument for different territories - don't! That's just another way for big business to screw you too. Also charging more for non DRM songs. There's no end to their greed is there?
The probe - it will take millions of euros and months to complete and at the end of the day you'll have a 700 page report that says "Apple are a bit naughty but what can you do?"
As for me it doesn't effect me as I prefer vinyl over CD and a CD over a download.
... I want legislation! I'm sick of Apple screwing us Europeans. The whole thing is a rip off. I hate the principals espoused by the WTO but on this occasion I'd like to hold big business to them. They are limiting me through unfair and restrictive practices from buying music from the Canadian store where I believe they pay 0.99 CAD which is 0.65 euro or 44 pence. As far as I understand the heavy handed principals of globalisation this kind of protected market is illegal. As for anyone about to mount a copyright licence counter argument for different territories - don't! That's just another way for big business to screw you too. Also charging more for non DRM songs. There's no end to their greed is there?
The probe - it will take millions of euros and months to complete and at the end of the day you'll have a 700 page report that says "Apple are a bit naughty but what can you do?"
As for me it doesn't effect me as I prefer vinyl over CD and a CD over a download.
EU iTunes Antitrust Probe
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AP News reports on a possible probe into Apple's online music store:
The charges are centered around the fact that iTunes limits sales to country-specific borders, rather than one central European music store.
Apple, however, maintains that this is due to record label restrictions:
AP News reports on a possible probe into Apple's online music store:
The charges are centered around the fact that iTunes limits sales to country-specific borders, rather than one central European music store.
Apple, however, maintains that this is due to record label restrictions:
Finally, it's about time. Perhaps now I can order tunes from the French or German iTunes. Free the system!
Unfortunately for Apple, it is Apple that is liable because they are the ones that operate the store and facilitate the interaction with the consumer.
If this lawsuit goes through (which I doubt), I'd expect to see Apple have to pay fines. Apple may have a case to then sue the labels, but I don't know if they'd want to do that.
In the end though, I expect a situation similar to what just happened with the DRM thing... Apple will squiggle out of their predicament at the last minute and avoid going to any kind of trial.
If this lawsuit goes through (which I doubt), I'd expect to see Apple have to pay fines. Apple may have a case to then sue the labels, but I don't know if they'd want to do that.
In the end though, I expect a situation similar to what just happened with the DRM thing... Apple will squiggle out of their predicament at the last minute and avoid going to any kind of trial.
This is idiotic. I guess they haven't heard of how record companies don't license across national borders. 
Also, someone has to say it...
NOT THE PROBE! I hope they use Lube.
Also, someone has to say it...
NOT THE PROBE!
I hope they use Lube.
It's simple. Just allow people to download tracks from any country they want. I vant my german rap!!!
This is silly. They want a giant single EU server powering iTunes rather than country specific ones, yet you can no longer import music into the UK from anywhere else in Europe.
The BBC are also reporting on the price of iTunes music in the UK, saying that our songs are 20% more expensive than mainland Europe.
I'd buy so many songs for 50p a pop.
The BBC are also reporting on the price of iTunes music in the UK, saying that our songs are 20% more expensive than mainland Europe.
I'd buy so many songs for 50p a pop.
What with the DRM free tracks from EMI and other record labels soon to follow, this "problem" will go away on its own. There won't be a "country specific" set of music stores, there will be one international portal. Apple would have nothing to gain by maintaining individual "stores" for each country.
I would think the EU would have bigger fish to fry than a short-term problem.
I would think the EU would have bigger fish to fry than a short-term problem.
This is good for the British iTunes - they pay way too much.
(About 20% more than us Norwegians, and they even have less VAT than us.)
(About 20% more than us Norwegians, and they even have less VAT than us.)
If only Apple had the right to do that... you think Apple wanted to go out and negotiate for distribution rights in each country like they had to? ...Apple would have loved to negotiate single distribution rights for all of the EU but that model doesn't exist at this time.
I still though think these are two separate issues. One being DRM, the other being that the labels want to restrict which countries have access to which groups. Still, you can go on eBay and buy a record from another country. What's the difference? All and all it comes down to the labels changing their monopolistic practices.
Is it possible for someone in Europe to connect to the United States iTunes Store and download from across the ocean, or do ISPs restrict that? And if not restricted by protocols or ISPs, then what?
It is only restricted by having an american visa or not. An american can still use the american iTS on vacation in europe.
Who cares about distribution rights? This is a secret form of censorship not to let us get to listen to foreign music. I think that there needs to be one worldwide standard!
Grrr... how frustrating. I don't want to have run through loops just to download a track from the Fantastichen Vier or Vanessa Paradis. Europop here we come!
No.
No.
Apple. They check the registered address of the credit card used to open the iTunes account and only allow you to purchase music from the iTunes store that matches the country you're in.
You have to have credit card in that state (US, Germany) or you have to buy the gift card there. I know it, because there is no iTunes Store in my country.
This is idiotic. I guess they haven't heard of how record companies don't license across national borders.
Which is why, according to the article:
"Apple and several major music companies had been sent a 'statement of
objections' "
I dont accept the "its the record label" cr@p. I can order a CD from Amazon france for delivery to Germany, or Amazon uk for delivery to italy. Why can I not download fro iTunes UK. Whats the difference?
The EU is a single market.
Sky TV also uses the same excuse for not providing its services to non UK residents, but they allow pubs in Spain to subscribe. I know the EU commission was investigating, but never heard what happened.
The EU is a single market.
Sky TV also uses the same excuse for not providing its services to non UK residents, but they allow pubs in Spain to subscribe. I know the EU commission was investigating, but never heard what happened.
Apple has to care or else they would have been in court long ago... yeah it would be great for a regional or single distribution right system but that isn't going to magically happen without many parties and governments changing the structure of the system.
Like some people have already mentioned, the main problem is the price difference between countries.
EU law says that products supplied to mulitple countries must have the same price in each country.
The big problem is the UK iTunes store where one song costs 0.79 £ which would be about 1.17. The EU Commission is threating Apple with a fine of 488 million (10% of yearly sales).
EU law says that products supplied to mulitple countries must have the same price in each country.
The big problem is the UK iTunes store where one song costs 0.79 £ which would be about 1.17. The EU Commission is threating Apple with a fine of 488 million (10% of yearly sales).
This is the beginning of something bigger. My guess is the real targets here are the media giants, those companies owned by Rupert Murdoch and Silvio Berlusconi, and it's not just about music. The EU wants to harmonise the licensing of all media across the Union and make it more like the system in the USA.
Apple is just caught in the crossfire.
Apple is just caught in the crossfire.