Monday, March 13, 2006
French Plan Would Open iTunes to Other Devices
Posted by Jeremy Charette in "ARTICLE" @ 03:00 PM
"France is pushing through a law that would force Apple Computer Inc to open its iTunes online music store and enable consumers to download songs onto devices other than the computer maker's popular iPod player. Under a draft law expected to be voted in parliament on Thursday, consumers would be able to legally use software that converts digital content into any format. It would no longer be illegal to crack digital rights management -- the codes that protect music, films and other content -- if it is to enable to the conversion from one format to another, said Christian Vanneste, Rapporteur, a senior parliamentarian who helps guide law in France. "It will force some proprietary systems to be opened up ... You have to be able to download content and play it on any device," Vanneste told Reuters in a telephone interview on Monday."
The French actually got something right for a change. People want to be able to use their music and movies when they want, where they want, how they want. Laws like this will enable that sort of portability between platforms and formats. I really wish US lawmakers would understand this concept as well as the French apparently do. Mind you, I'm willing to pay a small "convenience fee" to get content that's pre-formatted; but I refuse to pay $20 for a DVD, another $15 for a UMD, another $32 for a season of shows for my iPod, etc.
The French actually got something right for a change. People want to be able to use their music and movies when they want, where they want, how they want. Laws like this will enable that sort of portability between platforms and formats. I really wish US lawmakers would understand this concept as well as the French apparently do. Mind you, I'm willing to pay a small "convenience fee" to get content that's pre-formatted; but I refuse to pay $20 for a DVD, another $15 for a UMD, another $32 for a season of shows for my iPod, etc.
