winmacguy said:
Huh? As the whole EU is a free trade zone, it has to be a problem with the record companies.
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iTunes Europe Update
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Huh? As the whole EU is a free trade zone, it has to be a problem with the record companies.
nsb3000 said:
If there is one thing that is crucial with the launch of the European iTMS that would be to GET RIGHT THE FIRST TIME! otherwise the entire European press will be all over Apple like a bad smell. So if Apple wants to do some thorough testing with its music store to have it "perfect" and "ease of use" then I am all for that.
nsb3000 said:
The "until they get it right" means getting the laws and DRM or something like that working with each other, not tweaking a piece of software (which would be iTunes in this case). The service would totally suck for us europeans if the rules were different for us (unless they were better
.Also, how will the tunes be priced in other countries? There are lots of things they have to calculate and make deals with the companies and countries. That's what they mean by getting it right.
the future said:
Apparently the EU is going to sign an agreement sometime this summer to allow music to be downloaded legally from the internet in allow EU member countries which will enable the type of system that Apple has set up where iTMS is the same for every country. From what I can make out that is part of what the problem has been up till now, as well as all the record companies requireing different distribution release dates and prices.
No need to hurry, Apple
Take all the time it takes, legal issues, licensing, we understand.
After all, there are currently only 3-5 existing commercial download services over here, so obviously it is next to impossible to license music for download...
Apple, get real! Your market share is less than 3% over here for a reason - and being lackadaisical in inplementing the iTMS and throwing smoke screens is not going to help.
Take all the time it takes, legal issues, licensing, we understand.
After all, there are currently only 3-5 existing commercial download services over here, so obviously it is next to impossible to license music for download...
Apple, get real! Your market share is less than 3% over here for a reason - and being lackadaisical in inplementing the iTMS and throwing smoke screens is not going to help.
The World doesn't need a European iTunes store. It needs a UK store, a French store, a German store etc etc. We could have been downloading legal music a long long time ago... sigh.
Let's not blame Apple's delays on the European Union - it may have its downsides, but it's surely working in Apple's favour, since it agenda tends to be about harmonising law, tax, currency etc between member states. The truth is, it's probably a lack of European integration that's giving Apple the headache.
The reason that Apple is still working on this whilst other legal music download services have already launched in the EU is because they're trying to do a pan-European store - nothing similar currently exists to my knowledge. If they pull it off, it could be really cool.
Regarding iTMS in Canada - since P2P music sharing serices are apparently legal there, is there any need for a paid-for service? I'm genuinely interested in this point - not trolling - some of my best friends are Canadian...
The reason that Apple is still working on this whilst other legal music download services have already launched in the EU is because they're trying to do a pan-European store - nothing similar currently exists to my knowledge. If they pull it off, it could be really cool.
Regarding iTMS in Canada - since P2P music sharing serices are apparently legal there, is there any need for a paid-for service? I'm genuinely interested in this point - not trolling - some of my best friends are Canadian...
eSnow said:
Wow! We all know that Apple has absolutely no interest in selling product, particularly if it is to foreigners. For that reason alone, they would hardly have done any due diligence in securing the rights to launch the iTMS overseas. Of course, having Apple Corp trying to sue them might not help.
And all the hoopla about iPods, I bet they haven't got a single ad in the London subways promoting them. Actually, I have never seen any Macs in ANY foreign country come to think of it. Shame. I really, really wish they seriously wanted to market 'just one more thing.'
adamsan said:
It seems to me that the boundaries between commercial and political issues are dwindling. But nevertheless, an iTunes store in Europe would be very welcome and who- or whatever is causing the delays, I didn't bloody vote for it
winmacguy said:
Once again, you're wrong!
It's actually music industry bureaucracy, as illustrated by having several rights collection societies - which are commercial entities - for writers, performers, producers and - since the most recent amendment to the Berne Convention on copyright - even session musicians.
If it was EU bureaucracy, we would have a store for Norway, Switzerland, Japan and a host of other countries, but it isn't.
Actually, the European Commission is very concerned that the diversity of rights bodies is holding back the EU digitally and is talking about legislating to unify rights collection across the EU.
Too many pigs with their noses in the trough, who aren't representing the interests of their members especially those who have the most to gain from iTMS.
Hey, I'm not a music industry expert, but you just know that the licensing system across international borders has got to be a total mess. It'll be a miracle if Apple manages to come out with a fair, universally available European store that covers every country, and it'll be well worth the wait for the business it'll do. I'm being patient, and I think they're going about it the right way.
As much as I don't think this'll happen, I do desperately hope that the'll be music cross-pollenation. Not for Europe, but if Japanese acts start getting on the iTMS, I'll spend so much money there it won't even be funny.
Hey, if they can swing a deal somewhere around 100 yen a track in Japan, it'd be huge, considering that CDs sell for upwards of $30 there (and you thought $16 was overpriced).
As much as I don't think this'll happen, I do desperately hope that the'll be music cross-pollenation. Not for Europe, but if Japanese acts start getting on the iTMS, I'll spend so much money there it won't even be funny.
Hey, if they can swing a deal somewhere around 100 yen a track in Japan, it'd be huge, considering that CDs sell for upwards of $30 there (and you thought $16 was overpriced).
Buy yourself a clue. Copyright laws are similar in most of the world as they are implementations of WIPO treaties.winmacguy said:
It is the record companies who divide up distribution rights who are to blame.
Btw, international EU laws, haha, good one. You are very bright indeed.
Apparently you are talking out of your ass.winmacguy said:
*IF* it was illegal (It's not) to download songs (that are being legally distributed) off the Internet in the EU, they would not sign an agreement (you don't sign agreements with yourself), they would repeal or amend the directive in question.
A few points:
1. It distrurbs me that kids only a couple of years younger than me feel it is ok to download music illegally. True, there is no legal way for me to do it on my powerbook right now, but I know Apple are working on something - and I always purchase anything I download and keep (in the end!)
2. Why does the E.U have to sign an agreement to allow legal downloading? We already HAVE legal downloading services in the UK - e.g. Coke Music.
3. After studying (and living in) the E.U. for many years - my main concern is that there's a two-tier system, and it always contradicts itself - it shouldn't be possible for an individual nation state to impose a tax on something - without either prior approval from the E.U. (at least) or without it being widespread legislation. It's just the way that the E.U. impose all these rules on many different aspects of our lives (e.g. british farming practices) and then let us still dictate many of our own terms for other things - it should be total control or none - then you wouldn't get headaches like Apple is obviously getting for iTMSEU! (as I like to call it)
Anyway, that's my two... PENCE!
1. It distrurbs me that kids only a couple of years younger than me feel it is ok to download music illegally. True, there is no legal way for me to do it on my powerbook right now, but I know Apple are working on something - and I always purchase anything I download and keep (in the end!)
2. Why does the E.U have to sign an agreement to allow legal downloading? We already HAVE legal downloading services in the UK - e.g. Coke Music.
3. After studying (and living in) the E.U. for many years - my main concern is that there's a two-tier system, and it always contradicts itself - it shouldn't be possible for an individual nation state to impose a tax on something - without either prior approval from the E.U. (at least) or without it being widespread legislation. It's just the way that the E.U. impose all these rules on many different aspects of our lives (e.g. british farming practices) and then let us still dictate many of our own terms for other things - it should be total control or none - then you wouldn't get headaches like Apple is obviously getting for iTMSEU! (as I like to call it
)Anyway, that's my two... PENCE!
There are strong arguments in favour of tax harmonisation - principally concerning the single market.
The counter argument concerns subsidiarity - taking decisions at the most local level appropriate. Withdrawing the rights of members states' national parliaments to set local taxation will substantially reduce their powers and autonomy.
Personal view - we do not yet have adequate democratic accountability at an EU level for EU-wide tax harmonisation - it's just not appropriate for the European Comission, which is not democratically accountable, and not very transparent, to be setting taxation levels. Let's have a directly elected EU president, and misiters appointed by the president from members of the European parliament instead of commissioners. With such democratic institutions in place, then we can really start talking about Europe wide legislation, and maybe get an iTunes Music Store Europe up and running a little faster too
The counter argument concerns subsidiarity - taking decisions at the most local level appropriate. Withdrawing the rights of members states' national parliaments to set local taxation will substantially reduce their powers and autonomy.
Personal view - we do not yet have adequate democratic accountability at an EU level for EU-wide tax harmonisation - it's just not appropriate for the European Comission, which is not democratically accountable, and not very transparent, to be setting taxation levels. Let's have a directly elected EU president, and misiters appointed by the president from members of the European parliament instead of commissioners. With such democratic institutions in place, then we can really start talking about Europe wide legislation, and maybe get an iTunes Music Store Europe up and running a little faster too
MS in the iTMS = Music Store which = iTunes Music StoreSpyd3y said:Please excuse my stupidity, but what does the MS in iTMS stand for?
no offence to the EU
Who cares? CMRRIA TAKE NOTE! Get your **** together and work something out with apple!!! Canada needs iTMS!
Who cares? CMRRIA TAKE NOTE! Get your **** together and work something out with apple!!! Canada needs iTMS!