French push to free digital MP3’s as Apple cringes
French MPs are set to vote on a law that could lead to big changes in the way digital music is sold online. The proposed measures would force companies like Apple and Microsoft to share their copy-protection software. The aim is to ensure that digital music can be played on any player, regardless of its format or source. Is it just me or is France always going focused on going against US companies and the American governement? If something like this passes Apple and other companies might bite the bullet when it comes to online sales.
The French bill says that proprietary copy-protection technologies must not block interoperability between different systems. After the vote by the parliament, the bill would still need to be approved by France’s upper house, the Senate, a process that could take weeks. The French proposal would let music fans download music to their iPods from services other than iTunes or to rival players from the French iTunes store. It could force Apple into choosing between making its service compatible with rival players or shutting down its online store in France. Apple has so far declined to comment on the bill, which would also affect how its rivals run their music services.
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