Reports of iTMS Japan Opening in August are 'Rubbish'

U.K. Web site The Register on Wednesday reported that recent claims Apple Japan will open its iTunes Music Store in August are "rubbish." Journalist Tony Smith cited a Japanese Web site report that quoted an Apple Japan spokesman as saying that the reports are "untrue," despite an article in a Japanese newspaper on Tuesday that said Apple Japan had signed distribution deals with several major Japanese record companies.

Apple Japan would only confirm that the company "is still talking to the [Japanese] labels." Mr. Smith noted that the record companies "are apparently dissatisfied with the pricing and usage terms iTMS provides its customers."