As mentioned above the number of EU Nations is currently 15. And isn't the harmonisation of laws what's the EU is about? I don't know how far they got in respect to copyright laws, but recently there was news about an EU wide patent law. Not the same, but it bears some similarity.
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iTunes Music Store Europe - May 2004?
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As mentioned above the number of EU Nations is currently 15. And isn't the harmonisation of laws what's the EU is about? I don't know how far they got in respect to copyright laws, but recently there was news about an EU wide patent law. Not the same, but it bears some similarity.
Now that we are talking about software laws in Europe, I give you this link about software patents in Europe. Finally some good news come from here in Europe. 
May 2004...this sounds nice !
I guess we can expect a keynote around that time !
The 4th Generation iPod release is set to "first quarter 2004".
I think it's realistic that Steve will do a "Music Keynote" with the european iTMS and the new iPod, of course with some new features for iTMS integration
what do you think ?
I guess we can expect a keynote around that time !
The 4th Generation iPod release is set to "first quarter 2004".
I think it's realistic that Steve will do a "Music Keynote" with the european iTMS and the new iPod, of course with some new features for iTMS integration
what do you think ?
I dont understand something, why cant you access the iTMS network if you're from outside the US? How do they prevent that?
Originally posted by Eviga
I think it's realistic that Steve will do a "Music Keynote" with the european iTMS and the new iPod, of course with some new features for iTMS integration
what do you think ?
Sometime next summer I'll be sitting in a café, my latte in one hand, and my new iPod in the other hand, buying songs wirelessly from iTMS!!!
That would be niiiiice!
I don't think that it's just the different copyright laws in the EU, but rather the different copyright enforcement agencies. Every country has it's own agency which collects money and redistributes this money to the artists and record companies.
Although anyone can browse the store, to set up an account for iTMS (and therefore so you can buy songs) you have to use a credit card with a US billing address. Unfortunately you can only do this if you live in the USA.
For non-Americans, there is a way around this if you know someone you can trust who lives in the US. Get them to sign up for a no fee credit card with an internet-paying facility, get them to keep the card safe for you, and you can enter the details. Or something like that. As long as you know you can trust that they won't use the card (which will be like spending your money), the iTMS will think you live in the US. There's nothing illegal about this either, you just have to have family, etc in the US.
(Edited for clarity)
What about Canada?!
Anyone knows when the iTMS is coming to Canada?
It can't be that hard. Our countries aren't that different.
Anyone knows when the iTMS is coming to Canada?
It can't be that hard. Our countries aren't that different.
Well, at any rate, congraturations to lucky Eurolanders for having at least some rumors of iTMS. We in East Asia are totally left out in the cold without even a hint of it...
iPhoto printing still NOT available in Europe
Au contraire!
iPhoto Internet printing, and the hard back option are STILL NOT AVAILABLE IN EUROPE!!!
This is despite Kodak now offering Ofoto service in Europe (although I believe the hard back option is not from the same people).
By the way, in addition to the lack of European Sherlock content, the lack of iPhoto Internet printing, the lack of a European iTMS, you forgot to mention the lack of European Apple Retail stores.
Apple's International support sucks (I am not just referring to telephone support but Apple's whole relationship with International markets), not even a black hole sucks as much. Indeed I will go further still, not even WINDOWS sucks as much!
[That sucking, slurping noise you hear is Apple's European market share disappearing]
PS. If Microsoft and Virgin can manage to setup from scratch European music stores in a matter of weeks, why does it take Apple the best part of a year?
Au contraire!
iPhoto Internet printing, and the hard back option are STILL NOT AVAILABLE IN EUROPE!!!
This is despite Kodak now offering Ofoto service in Europe (although I believe the hard back option is not from the same people).
By the way, in addition to the lack of European Sherlock content, the lack of iPhoto Internet printing, the lack of a European iTMS, you forgot to mention the lack of European Apple Retail stores.
Apple's International support sucks (I am not just referring to telephone support but Apple's whole relationship with International markets), not even a black hole sucks as much. Indeed I will go further still, not even WINDOWS sucks as much!
[That sucking, slurping noise you hear is Apple's European market share disappearing]
PS. If Microsoft and Virgin can manage to setup from scratch European music stores in a matter of weeks, why does it take Apple the best part of a year?
It seems strange to me that there are multiple companies in Europe offering a pay-per-download music service only months after the iTMS introduction in the US. (although lacking the universal rights for all songs)
Even if Apple only started negotiating with European partners since the US iTMS introduction, they should be able to get the same usage rights before the end of the year.
But then, they didn't localise Sherlock, offer printing in iPhoto, opened a european apple retail store,... This isn't about the diversity of the European market making it impossible to do business. This is about the pure incompetence of Apples European/international lawyers and sales team.
Even if Apple only started negotiating with European partners since the US iTMS introduction, they should be able to get the same usage rights before the end of the year.
But then, they didn't localise Sherlock, offer printing in iPhoto, opened a european apple retail store,... This isn't about the diversity of the European market making it impossible to do business. This is about the pure incompetence of Apples European/international lawyers and sales team.
This would be great... the current iTMS would certainly benefit from such a move, opening up the music library to more tunes from around the world.
EU copyright law
Just for the record: copyright law, as all intellectual property law, in the EU (including the 10 new members) is fully harmonized. Enforcement of the law is a different story indeed...
Actually, copyright law is the one most harmonized law in the world (i.e. US and EU copyright law is almost the same), thanks to the Berne Convention (http://www.wipo.org/treaties/ip/berne/).
Just for the record: copyright law, as all intellectual property law, in the EU (including the 10 new members) is fully harmonized. Enforcement of the law is a different story indeed...
Actually, copyright law is the one most harmonized law in the world (i.e. US and EU copyright law is almost the same), thanks to the Berne Convention (http://www.wipo.org/treaties/ip/berne/).
hmmm...
No Sherlock...
No iPhoto...
No Apple Store...
Terrible service...
Can someone please remind me why I like Apple...!?!
No, seriously:
I find it hard to believe, if Apple spent almost two years developing iTMS USA , that they didn't foresee the current situation. We must have faith in the genious of Jobs & Co, and expect something very, very good by next summer!
Ohh, good! Faith restored for now!
(I wonder, do the other music stores in Europe offer local artists, or just international artists? If not, this may be what Apple wants to achieve before announcing..)
No Sherlock...
No iPhoto...
No Apple Store...
Terrible service...
Can someone please remind me why I like Apple...!?!
No, seriously:
I find it hard to believe, if Apple spent almost two years developing iTMS USA , that they didn't foresee the current situation. We must have faith in the genious of Jobs & Co, and expect something very, very good by next summer!
Ohh, good! Faith restored for now!
(I wonder, do the other music stores in Europe offer local artists, or just international artists? If not, this may be what Apple wants to achieve before announcing..)
If others don't offer local music, they have plenty of time to do so before the introduction of iTMS-EU. Those others get two times the publicity that way: one time when they start in the EU (big name artist promots the service), a second time when they add local music (local artists to promote their service).
brand awareness of Apple and the iPod is extremely low in the UK.
for the vast majority computer= windows over there just like in the US, but in the US Apple has strong brand awareness and an image as 'cool'. the story of how Apple started in a garage is fairly well know, at least in geeky circles and Apple continues to receive favourable press from various pundits. press coverage of Apple in the UK is pratically non-existant. schools are forced to buy PCs.
its hard even buying a mac in the UK. PC World the UK's nearest equivalent to CompUSA has at best some old dusty models lurking at the back. no one in the store will know anything about them and will more than likely advise you to buy a Windows box instead.
until Apple builds brand awareness in the UK and other EU countries, I can't see the situation changing. perhaps launching ITMS in the EU will help.
look at this article on BBCi http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20032809.shtml (scroll to end). the writer doesn't even know how to write 'iPod' and doesn't brand it as Apple, presumably because s/he has never heard of this strange thing called a (sic) mp3 player.
for the vast majority computer= windows over there just like in the US, but in the US Apple has strong brand awareness and an image as 'cool'. the story of how Apple started in a garage is fairly well know, at least in geeky circles and Apple continues to receive favourable press from various pundits. press coverage of Apple in the UK is pratically non-existant. schools are forced to buy PCs.
its hard even buying a mac in the UK. PC World the UK's nearest equivalent to CompUSA has at best some old dusty models lurking at the back. no one in the store will know anything about them and will more than likely advise you to buy a Windows box instead.
until Apple builds brand awareness in the UK and other EU countries, I can't see the situation changing. perhaps launching ITMS in the EU will help.
look at this article on BBCi http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20032809.shtml (scroll to end). the writer doesn't even know how to write 'iPod' and doesn't brand it as Apple, presumably because s/he has never heard of this strange thing called a (sic) mp3 player.
This is so true. Here in the UK we did get quite prominent PowerMac G5 adverts throughout September but there is nothing about anything else. My brother loves his new iPod but most of his friends have never heard of it before. And most people think that Macs are creaky old computers that are "not compatible."
C'mon Apple! Tell us about yourself in the UK!
Back on topic, I can't wait for iTMS Europe. I get the opportunity to browse the store and download previews but I can't buy! Hopefully they can get it sorted soon because Microsoft already has one (although no-one knows about it!)
You´re right about lack of Apple promotion in the UK. The G5 ad on TV was a shocker ie rare, but I´ll be interested to see what happens with iTunes for Windows advertising.
There was a jazz musician on Radio Fivelive today and he said he left his sax at home and bought his Titanium Powerbook in instead. Very subtle product placement and probably just reinforced the cliche that Macs are for creative professionals ONLY? I was expecting him to mention iTunes or iTunes Music Store, but from his silence on that plug, it seems as though he´s not on itms.
It´s interesting how unimportant Macs are here. I was told by an administrator at my university that to open a utility to enable me to access my iDisk from a Windows terminal represented a security issue. Oh really, I wonder why!!! He tried to be helpful, not, and gave me the bumf for remote network access. I couldn´t access my account at University without Virtual PC. I could only dial in. Just pathetic compared to using iDisk. Its so different from what US uni students seem to have, I guess because there are more Mac users demanding compatability.
iTunes for Windows should knock down a few more barriers about Mac being only available to some closed cult - assumimg we get the big ad campaign here, of course.
There was a jazz musician on Radio Fivelive today and he said he left his sax at home and bought his Titanium Powerbook in instead. Very subtle product placement and probably just reinforced the cliche that Macs are for creative professionals ONLY? I was expecting him to mention iTunes or iTunes Music Store, but from his silence on that plug, it seems as though he´s not on itms.
It´s interesting how unimportant Macs are here. I was told by an administrator at my university that to open a utility to enable me to access my iDisk from a Windows terminal represented a security issue. Oh really, I wonder why!!! He tried to be helpful, not, and gave me the bumf for remote network access. I couldn´t access my account at University without Virtual PC. I could only dial in. Just pathetic compared to using iDisk. Its so different from what US uni students seem to have, I guess because there are more Mac users demanding compatability.
iTunes for Windows should knock down a few more barriers about Mac being only available to some closed cult - assumimg we get the big ad campaign here, of course.
Re: The following is pure speculation. . .
The music situation in Europe is quite different, it's not just a question of copyright, there are tens of thousands of minor record companies and hundreds of large ones. And the contracts between the artists/record companies/distributors differ, not only from country to country, but also from company to company and artist to artist. There are cross-nation associations between the larger record companies, but not as heterogen as in the US. Apple would have to initiate hundreds of negociations in Europe in twenty languages while the same could be done with ten or fewer associations in the US.
I think it's a good sign that it takes some time though. If Apple had been satisfied with offering US music from the big record companies, we would have ITMS already. I think they are going for the whole shabang, all the local music, and that would also mean a great new (US) market for European artists that otherwise would not make it across the Atlantic. And vice versa. Us Europeans certainly will have access to great independent US music. What we are watching here, dear friends, is the greatest music revolution since Sun records let that truck driver guy in the studio.
He might be a pain to work for, but Mr. Jobs sure has an uncanny eye for the future.
Go buddy go!
The music situation in Europe is quite different, it's not just a question of copyright, there are tens of thousands of minor record companies and hundreds of large ones. And the contracts between the artists/record companies/distributors differ, not only from country to country, but also from company to company and artist to artist. There are cross-nation associations between the larger record companies, but not as heterogen as in the US. Apple would have to initiate hundreds of negociations in Europe in twenty languages while the same could be done with ten or fewer associations in the US.
I think it's a good sign that it takes some time though. If Apple had been satisfied with offering US music from the big record companies, we would have ITMS already. I think they are going for the whole shabang, all the local music, and that would also mean a great new (US) market for European artists that otherwise would not make it across the Atlantic. And vice versa. Us Europeans certainly will have access to great independent US music. What we are watching here, dear friends, is the greatest music revolution since Sun records let that truck driver guy in the studio.
He might be a pain to work for, but Mr. Jobs sure has an uncanny eye for the future.
Go buddy go!