Norway drops iTunes gripes after Apple drops DRM

Apple's Phil Schiller discusses DRM-free iTunes music at Macworld 2009, a move that has ended Norwegian opposition to the iTunes Store.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET News)

One of Apple's most persistent European critics regarding the use of digital-rights management technology on the iTunes Store has dropped its complaint following the company announcement that iTunes music would soon be DRM-free.

Norway's consumer ombudsman, Bjoern Erik Thon, said Wednesday that he would drop his complaint against iTunes before Norway's Market Council, telling Agence France Presse "we have no reason to pursue them anymore." Norway has been particularly vocal among European critics regarding the way Apple had used DRM technologies on the iTunes store to limit the use of purchased iTunes songs to iPods.

But at Macworld 2009, Apple announced plans to sell all of its music catalog on the iTunes Store without DRM technology by the end of April. That means songs purchased from the iTunes store will play on any music player that supports AAC files, rather than just iPods.

That move will likely end the various movements against the iTunes Store in other European countries, such as France and Sweden. A few years ago, France had attempted to force companies like Apple to share the secrets of their DRM technology with rivals to force interoperability, but later backed down.

[3rdalbum]

Why drop the complaint? Most of the videos on the iTunes Store will remain DRM-encrypted and locked to Apple software and hardware. Why is video exempt from people's attention?

[Seaspray0]

Because apple doesn't have a monopoly on video players. They do have a monopoly on portable music players. By dropping the DRM, they will avoid lawsuits claiming an abuse of that monopoly... such as the one from Norway.

[forever4now]

Next, I would like to see all music stores (iTunes,Amazon,Ovi,etc.) being offered on all smartphone platforms (iPhone,Android,Symbian,Blackberry,WinMo,Pre,etc.), so consumers have REAL choice and so there is strong competition in the music space.

[spectator1]

What great news about Apple dropping DRM.for the iTunes Store, We have been an iTunes affiliate since the store open and have made less than a hundred dollars. Despite online marketing and high site traffice the sales where no sale or a few. So after all the litigation dropping DRM will it benefit anyone but the people who have not been able to download digital content. We will find out if this boost revenue at http://sites.google.com/site/musicmoviesandmorecorp/ and
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