French lawmakers approved an online copyright bill Tuesday that would require Apple to break open the exclusive format behind its market-leading iTunes music store and iPod players. The draft law - which also sets new penalties for music pirates - would force Apple, Sony, and others to share proprietary copy-protection technologies so that rivals can offer compatible services and players. An analyst expects that Apple is more likely to leave the French market, than to open its format in France. My take: Just buy CDs. They play in every CD player, and have no weird restrictions. In case you forgot, CDs look like this.
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Member since:2005-06-30
OK, I have to admit that I don't live in France, and I don't know how all of their laws are set up. So, for all I know the lawmakers may be screwing everyone over. I don't agree with your interpretation of the point you quoted though.
"The draft law - which also sets new penalties for music pirates - would force Apple, Sony, and others to share proprietary copy-protection technologies so that rivals can offer compatible services and players."
If it's a choice between screwing over consumers or screwing over corporations, choose both! =D
I don't exactly see music pirates, or pirates of any kind for that matter, as consumers. If there weren't pirates in the first place, there wouldn't be any acceptance of anti-consumer practices by anyone other than extremely corrupt politicians, and even they would be careful to endorse something that there didn't seem to be some reason to justify.
I think it's good for a government body to try to protect the interests of the consumer/general population. I don't know that France will be successful with the efforts they have and are making, but at least they don't seem (from where I stand) to be fueling the RIAAs antics.
Member since:
2006-01-24
"The draft law - which also sets new penalties for music pirates - would force Apple, Sony, and others to share proprietary copy-protection technologies so that rivals can offer compatible services and players."
If it's a choice between screwing over consumers or screwing over corporations, choose both! =D