French look to open iTunes to other music players

Under draft law consumers would be able to legally use software that converts digital content into any format.

The story "French look to open iTunes to other music players" published March 13, 2006 at 12:27 PM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[indrakanti]

Microsoft was asked...

to open up its windows file sharing protocols. I think it is fair that they ask Apple to do the same thing with their iTunes music. Though, I would like to see this become a EU decision rather than French decision. This is not to say Apple should be forced to sell DRM free music but they could license their Fairplay to others for a reasonable fee. In today world where formats become quickly outdated interoperability is the key. Now, only if someon in US has the guts to stand up and do the same thing...

[UntoldDreams]

M$ still being sued

Correct me if I'm wrong but hasn't M$ been fighting with the EU about it's media player & File Sharing protocols for such a long time already... Sure they told M$ to open up, M$ promised to open up, and then a bunch of people claim the way they've opened up sucks. Nothing new here.

[Earl Benser]

Once more the French government....

..... exhibits it's historical skill to screw up good ideas. <br />Diplomacy, warfare, governments, colonies, whatever - only the <br />French government can achieve such a record of incompetence. <br />And now they are trying to do it again.<br /><br />Okay Apple, it's time to tell the French government where to go. <br />Pull iTunes from France before French law can screw things up <br />any worse. Maybe they can still format convert, but make it as <br />difficult and potentially illegal as you can.<br /><br />The French people will pay the price, and that's unfortunate - <br />they are generally good people. It's their government that is a <br />loser, and has been a loser for the last 2000 years.

[indrakanti]

Double speak...

Your post is a good exaple of how zealotry can make an otherwise pragmatic person shortsighted . Why do you think that it is unfair to ask Apple to open up iTune DRM while all the while flaming microsoft for not opening up Windows File sharing? Earl! this is digital age...interoperability is the key. Nobody wants to be locked up to iTunes &#38; iPod just becasue they bought lot of music from iTunes store. This is like saying you have to buy Phillips stereo to play CDs because phillips developed CD format. I know I can burn those iTunes songs to CD and copy them to another software, but that's not what I want. I didn't buy CDs and bought digital music instead because I didn't want to go through that very same hassle.<br /><br />So, contratry to your opinion, I think french goverment is going in the right direction. Because, they care about their people and not corporate bigwigs with fat paychecks and bank balances.

[David Arbogast]

Doomed to fail

The only reason iTunes is a success is because DRM is implemented. Oh sure, people will whine and tell you how great the hardware is, and how well the software is designed.. and how brilliantly it is marketed and prices... but in the end, if the Media owners hadn't signed licensing agreements with Apple, then there would be no worthwhile content and thus no service. <br /><br />When the media companies hear that Apple will be forced to release their content in a format that can be stripped of DRM and freely copied and converted, they will not accept it. They will not allow apple to resell their content in France, and the iTunes service will suffer. <br /><br />The French government has it all wrong. You cannot legislate technological advances... content owners have a right (at least, US owners do) to license their product however they see fit. The French government can rule that the distrubution is unfair, but the response will likely be the reduction of distribution. What a loony idea.<br /><br />In the (hopefully not too distant future), DRM will be a better implemented technology with some standards in place so that it can be transfered from one format to another... thus, the technology might allow you to transfer from iTunes format to MP3... but the resulting MP3 would contain the same DRM and the iTunes file would be permanently disabled. This is a solution that would likely be accepted by content owners, but sadly does not exist today.

[unknown unknown]

RE

"he French government has it all wrong. You cannot legislate technological advances..."<br /><br />We've legislated technological advances. Indeed there is a bill in congress to give the FCC the power force digital and satellite radio broadcasters to use the audio broadcast flag. The wording of the bill essentially give the FCC and record companies veto power over what feature can be implemented in radio receivers. In the U.S we legislate infavor of copyright holders at the expense of consumers. It would seem to be the opposite in France.<br /><br /><br />"In the (hopefully not too distant future), DRM will be a better implemented technology with some standards in place so that it can be transfered from one format to another..."<br /><br />Apple and other proprietary DRM vendors have no interest in allowing that to happen. The whole point of shifting formats is to allow for greater interoperability. Apple makes alot of money being the only one that can sell music with DRM that works on the iPod.<br /><br />"thus, the technology might allow you to transfer from iTunes format to MP3... but the resulting MP3 would contain the same DRM and the iTunes file would be permanently disabled."<br /><br />Why disable the iTunes file? In the conversion to MP3 quite a bit of quality is lost. Now by disabling the original the consumer has been stuck with an inferior copy of the one they bought, essentially punishing the consumer. Of course all this format shifting means nothing if Apple won't license Fairplay.<br /><br />"This is a solution that would likely be accepted by content owners, but sadly does not exist today."<br /><br />Fortunity it doesn't, it would very consumer unfriendly. Every time the consumer shifted formats they'd loose more quality since the original would be disabled. If they kept shifting at some point the song would be unusable.<br />There are a lot of things that would acceptable to content owner, but would do great damage to everyone else.

[skeptik]

fat chance

"In the (hopefully not too distant future), DRM will be a better implemented technology with some standards in place so that it can be transfered from one format to another... "<br /><br />Whom do you think will instigate this change? The content companies who benifit from closed proprietary systems? The buying public who don't even understand DRM, keep buying anyway and have no real power to change anything?<br />The government is an entirely appropriate entity to force this type of change. They are the only ones who can stand up to powerful corporations and force change to happen. It is laws created by the government that created this mess to begin with. In the US, DCMA is the reason we have legal troubles excercising our fair use rights, and the government needs to be the ones to fix their mess. (Yes I know the article is about France, but it's a start.

[dirk128]

Who Cares? Not iPod users.

This law would also open up Microsoft's closed and proprietary <br />windows media audio (with DRM) sold online and enable it to be <br />easily played on iPod's. I think it would actually sell more iPod's.<br /><br />Of course, it wouldn't change the amount of people using <br />iTunes, it's not the file format, it's the ease of use and <br />integration which made iTunes and iPod the winner. <br /><br />Converting file formats is already quite easy, so you can shop at <br />say Napster if you actually want to - but why introduce another <br />step when you use iTunes to load your iPod, just use iTunes to <br />purchase on-line if you wish. And, if you don't like the DRM'd <br />formats that Napster, Real, iTunes etc. sell, just buy the CD then <br />rip it into iTunes with NO restrictions that are associated with <br />purchasing Microsoft's WMA (DRM) and Apple's AAC (fairplay) <br />on-line.

[jmecham]

Another French Mistake

This is a continuing case of France seeking to isolate itself even more from the world. As with everything they try, this will be another mistake.

[shadowself]

WRONG and misleading

Just read the first three paragraphs of the story. They don't <br />agree!<br /><br />"France is pushing through a law that would force Apple <br />Computer to open its iTunes online music store and enable <br />consumers to download songs onto devices other than the <br />computer maker's popular iPod player.<br /><br />Under a draft law expected to be voted on in parliament on <br />Thursday, consumers would be able to legally use software that <br />converts digital content into any format.<br /><br />It would no longer be illegal to crack digital rights <br />management--the codes that protect music, films and other <br />content--if it is to enable the conversion from one format to <br />another, said Christian Vanneste, Rapporteur, a senior <br />parliamentarian who helps guide law in France."<br /><br />As I understand it, reading from several different sources on the <br />Web (I have not read the proposed law itself), there is <br />ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the law that will force Apple to open <br />up iTunes. What the law will do, if enacted, is make it legal to <br />strip the DRM off of anything if you want to play the DRM <br />encumbered media on something that does not support that <br />version of DRM.<br /><br />Thus the law would allow anyone to strip the DRM off a song or <br />video bought through iTunes so it would play on something <br />other than an iPod. The law would also allow anyone to strip the <br />DRM off any song rented through Napster, etc. so it would play <br />on an iPod!<br /><br />This law does nothing to help make music more universal. It just <br />makes cracking DRM completely legal. The pretense is that it is <br />for portability of media. This is 100% BS. Anyone who knows <br />anything about this certainly knows that as soon as DRM <br />stripping is legal then there will be shops set up to *supposedly* <br />strip DRM for people, while in reality they will be building a <br />complete catalog of the songs out there for redistribution.<br /><br />Right now you can strip DRM by re-encoding, but this lessens <br />quality. Thus most of the redistributed music is of lesser quality <br />than you can get from iTunes or Napster or whereever else with <br />the DRM included. This law, if enacted, would create an easy <br />means for full quality media to be available.<br /><br />Let the pirates rejoice!

[skeptik]

overkill

The problem with your rant is that the underlying assumption that only pirates would want or could benefit from DRM free files. This isn't true and I resent the assumption that I am a pirate just because I want to control the media I've purchased and don't want to face jail or fines for doing it.<br />Ask yourself, why should I be a criminal just because I want to play my itunes media on my new iriver player? Who have I hurt with that action? Should the media companies really have the right to expect I need to repurchase the same media content every time I switch mp3 players?<br /><br />Yes, scoff-laws would benefit from this. but hey, criminals benefit from driving cars too, so should we outlaw driving?<br />Besides, serious pirates already skirt DRM, the only people being hurt by it are the legitimate paying customers who are unwilling to break the law just to excercise their fair use rights.

[System Tyrant]

DRM me, sir.

I really don't have a problem DRM as long as I can use my legally purchased music in a manner which is legal by the law. What I mean is DRM shouldn't be a way to lock the user into one platform, device, or software. It should, however, allow a content provider to track or lock a song that is being used illegally. Of course that doesn't work. :)<br /><br />I think what would be nice is if I could give a person my entire iTunes library and they could listen to all the songs once or twice and then be required to purchase a licence. It would be nice if say my brother wanted a song I had and all I do is bring it over and load it up on his computer. He listens to it and decides he wants to buy it. Goes online an makes the purchase. If he decides he doesn't want it the song would stop playing and at some point delete itself.<br /><br />Once again none of this is ever going to happen.

[dpierce]

Great idea and you can do it with iTunes

iTunes allows you to move your purchased content onto up to five <br />computers. So if you want your brother or best friend to have a <br />song provide them with a copy and your id and password (by the <br />way not a good idea). You can then disable thier computer after a <br />couple of days from accessing the song. This allows for fair use <br />and you can help promote the song for your brother or friend to <br />purchase.

[hahne59]

Here's a fun little idea I would use if I were Apple

Do it.<br />Just make it fun for anyone trying to put iTunes music on a competing MP3 player.<br />You know, something like a virus.<br />When someone converts music, it becomes "chopped 'n screwed". <br />The music is slowed down, mixed around you know occasionaly stopping and giving 4 fascinating minutes of pure silence.<br />Except for a randomly spliced scream.<br />Boy that would be loads of fun!!!! :)

[lampietheclown]

Just curious...

QUOTE:Do it. Just make it fun for anyone trying to put iTunes <br />music on a competing MP3 player. You know, something like a <br />virus.<br /><br />You wouldn't happen to work for Sony, would you? The suits there <br />have the same concept of fun and humor.<br /><br />Lampie

[willcasp]

Won't Happen

I noticed that the article mentioned that DVD's won't be affected. I read this to mean that whatever the equiv. to the movie lobby is over in France got that provision taken care of. I would expect the equiv. of the RIAA in France to do the same.<br /><br />If there is no way to reasonably protect content, the content providers just won't provide the content.<br /><br />If passed, this will effectively kill the digital distribution industry in France. What will be interesting is to see if the loss of an up and coming revenue stream will force the content owners to bend a little.

[gggg sssss]

Not often that I agree with the French

but Canada will hopefully follow suit, as will the rest of Europe. Sure the music and content industry MIGHT pull their products, but if no-one cares anymore then they will end up with NO sales and will have to close up shop or they will have to find a business model that works in the 21st century. The blatant theft that is going on is the industry taking the $1.99 and then renegging (sp) on letting the user actually use the content they just baught.

[toosday]

GREAT IDEA...sort of

I don't see how this law would combat piracy at all, but I do have <br />to agree with the French on one front: Proprietary software is <br />bad. Like the Songbird guys said, It's like back during the <br />internet boom when only a couple of companies held a major <br />share of the market. AOL users couldn't email Prodigy users, etc.<br /><br />I'd like to be able to put other DRM-ed files on my iPod and buy <br />from other providers. Of course, I can already do that by burning <br />the files to CD and re-importing, but whatever. <br /><br />Apple's already in the top position as far as sales goes. Are they <br />really afraid that if they open up, then they might lose their <br />spot? (If not, then I can see no other reason to be defensive.)

[J.G.]

Dire au revoir, Pomme

If I were asked for legal advice on this issue by Apple, I would <br />say to play hardball with the French if they pass this law. Yes. <br />Quit selling digital music via iTMS in France. The issue is <br />important enough to do that. The effect of the law would be to <br />put the digital music resellers with a combined 20 percent of the <br />market on the same footing as Apple, which has 80 percent. <br />That punishes Apple for being successful. In addition, all the <br />work it has done to build its exclusive catalogs at iTMS would go <br />down the drain as the content is pirated everywhere.<br /><br />Alors! Apple should make a preemptive strike and shut down <br />iTMS in France BEFORE the bill is even voted on. French iTMS <br />fans can take it from there. They will make the upset <br />immigrants look mildly peeved.

[niowaguy]

Free Market?

Whatever happened to letting the free market determine how fast the online services grow and which ones people use. Apple does not have a monopoly on selling online music -- yes it is the leader, but because people prefer it's easy to use interface in combination with the iPod. Yes prosecute illegal downloads -- but bureaucrats again think they know better then the average person out there in the market on what should be done. Give the consumer some credit ? they are not as dumb as many assume!

[indrakanti]

Consumer rights are often compromised...

when you let free market determine everything. That's when the governments have to step in. If you let these companies have it their way, they ivariably try to lock you up with their products -whether it is iTunes or IE or MS Windows. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the consumer's investment doesn't suffer when technology changes. Sadly, many governments don't think that way. Its true that presently iPod-iTunes is a great combinationation that works seamlessly, but if some one comes up with a better product tomorrow I should be able to trasfer my music to that device or platform. It all boils down to choice.

Screw other players...

Sorry, but if you want to use another MP3 player, use a different service. Use one of the many crap-tastic variations out there of iTunes.<br /><br />Get the crappiest encoding, crappiest selection, and crappiest interface possible. You don't HAVE to use iTunes. Apple shouldn't release this. It's the end-users choice as to which player/service they use. <br /><br />If the French say "you have to" then Apple should say "Good-bye frogleg eaters!" and no longer iPods nore iTunes store in France.

[french frog]

Pull the plug Apple

More French socialist government intervention in private <br />enterprise.<br /><br />Hey Apple, pull the plug on these guys. Let their kids listen to <br />Allah chants....and don't call us...we aren't comming to the <br />rescue again

[Musica360.com]

LMAO

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lapleader]

France = 2% of sales, see ya

Yet another fine example of French and their socialist experiment. It doesn't work. They don't want us to but their Yogurt companies (Danone) yet expect us to let them by a tech company like Lucent and open up iTunes for them.<br />Steve, do like the rest of us. Ignore the French market it just isn't big enough to worry about and make it available at a discount to all the EU members that allow artists the rights to their intellectual property to be sold legally.