Consumer Group Complains About iTunes... In Norway
from the brrrrr dept
A Norwegian consumer group has asked the country's ombudsman to look into the iTunes Music Store, alleging it violates consumers' rights. Among other complaints, the group has several issues with the store's terms and conditions, but also says that only allowing songs to be played on the iPod and not other portable music players contravenes fair use provisions of the country's copyright law. A consumer's group in the UK has made similar complaints there, as have other European groups. Apple, of course, couldn't care less about the iTunes DRM as it pertains to copy protection -- it just likes the lock-in.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Lock in?
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No Subject Given
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ridiculous
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Re: ridiculous
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Re: ridiculous
Suffice it to say we don't know how Norway's fair use laws work so we can hardly comment. At the surface it sounds silly but I'm sure there's sense in there somewhere.
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Re: ridiculous
Apple's music market is not a monopoly.
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Re: ridiculous
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No Subject Given
There are so many other options besides the iTunes/iPod combo.
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Apple have a market share monopoly on the portable media player market! And they're using iTunes to maintain that monopoly. Anybody who wants to stop using iPods, will have to go out and buy all their music again to use it on a "no.brand" mp3 player. Once you're in, you're stuck in.
This is exactly the same thing that caused the anti-trust cases against Microsoft. But since Apple aren't Microsoft people like you will probably just let them get away with it......
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Re: No Subject Given
Apple started something fantastic! Apple actually made it possible for its competitors to exist. Apple is not forcing any MP3 player manufacturers to use its DRM. They are not bullying musicians to sign up with only them.
You don't have to use the iPod to listen to their music. You can listen to it on your computer and burn it to cd. That in itself is allowing your right to fair use. Where is the evil?
I can't stand DRM, and will not buy RIAA music until they stop their dinosaur like ways of business and only listen to independant artists. I even only play them on my podcast. I have access to over 7000 tracks of great music and counting. Who needs RIAA artists and their cookie cutter content?
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No Subject Given
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Not as bad as it sounds
If no legal precedence has been set they may take a case to the courts in behalf of consumers. Thus the consumer runs no financial risk if the case is lost.
I don't think they will go to court in the iTunes case. After all you can just buy your music somwhere else.
I'm from Norway so please excuse my limited english.
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