This is a bigger problem for the subscription services. Even the French would not be so dumb as to require Apple to make the iPod play music from those services.

"the law has yet to be debated and approved by the Senate--a process that would not begin until at least May"

Apple will offer no comment until there is reason to act.

French congressional action will wither and not stand the scrutiny of legal review.

"FairPlay copy protection can be bypassed by burning songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store to a CD, and then re-importing them into iTunes or any other music jukebox application."

Because this function is built-in to iTunes, it seems to me that burning a CD and re-importing it would not be considered as "bypassing" anything. Just because there is a lock on my door doesn't mean you're bypassing my "security" when I unlock my door to let you in.

It should be also noted that iTunes keeps track of how many times one burns a CD (playlist), burning and then re-importing reduces the quality of the audio, and burning anything other than a full album nullifies the ability of using Gracenote/CDDB to identify metadata/tracknames. (All major reasons for why there *should* be a way to seamlessly and legally convert from one DRM'd format to another)


rY.

"Developing a "French Version" and a "Rest of the World Version" of music download stores, MP3 players, and other related technologies is also an option, but seems amazingly cumbersome for companies to manage."

That's pretty much France in a nutshell in doing business. Just look at video formats - 98% of the world is PAL or NTSC - what's France? SECAM. They don't really care if it makes it tougher for you to do business - they just like to go on their path - if you want to follow, do so - if not, buh-bye.

First, Apple can argue that since the music publishers allow their tracks to be converted to CD audio (format), their tracks are already "exchangeable" and open. If they lose that argument (as do MS, Real & their minions) ...

Apple then has two options. Either they will sell tracks without any DRM or they will simply close up the store portion of itunes. Remember, Apple only makes a couple Euro pennies on the sale of each song ... no real revenue difference there. People can still buy CD's or even MS tracks (presumably they'll stick around).

Apple can then launch some sort of kiosk ipod jukebox where you can buy tracks without wiping out your music - set them up in train stations just outside of France and in every destination spot so there's still revenue - it just takes a little more work ... you can even have marketing fun with it such as the Brussels train station contains some special extended version so if you want it - you'll have to go there.

Is the law strange, bizarre & arbritrary? Of course - that's what happens when lawmakers get together (see our Congress).

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Guest wrote:


That's pretty much France in a nutshell in doing business. Just look at video formats - 98% of the world is PAL or NTSC - what's France? SECAM. They don't really care if it makes it tougher for you to do business - they just like to go on their path - if you want to follow, do so - if not, buh-bye.

Ummm, Guest, you seem to be living in the past here. France has stopped using Secam for around a decade, and has now entirely switched to PAL (even the French found Secam stupid, and it really was).

Let me get this straight! Apple spends its time and money to develop the technology and France want it for free, amusing! France wants to bully but they forget, the song you paid for when downloading from iTune is for that format only. If you want to play that song on other device, buy again! Its available in stores, Mr. French bozo. Stop your bullying tectics.

If this law comes into effect, then I guess Microsoft will have to enable their DRM on the Mac, i.e. a full and working copy of media player. I can't see this happening, now that they've allowed it wither and die like internet explorer on the Mac.

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Guest wrote:
If this law comes into effect, then I guess Microsoft will have to enable their DRM on the Mac, i.e. a full and working copy of media player. I can't see this happening, now that they've allowed it wither and die like internet explorer on the Mac.

Will they? Or will Apple have to license the tech from Microsoft, or at least write their own compatibility layer for Microsoft's DRM, same goes for Microsoft? The French law proposed mentions media players? Or will Apple be just out of luck and at a distinct competitive disadvantage, since many online music stores are not Mac compatible?