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hbgator

Fri 30 Jun, 2006


French lawmakers approve 'iTunes law'

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PARIS <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>-<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> French lawmakers gave final approval Friday to legislation that could force Apple Computer Inc.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> to make its iPod and iTunes Music Store compatible with rivals'<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> music players and online services.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Both the Senate and the National Assembly,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> France's lower house,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> voted in favor of the copyright bill,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> which some analysts said could cause Apple Computer Inc.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and others to pull their music players and online download stores from France.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The vote was the final legislative step before the bill becomes law <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>Ã<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>¢<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>‚<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>¬<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>�<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> barring the success of a last-ditch constitutional challenge filed last week by the opposition Socialists.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Currently,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> songs bought on iTunes can be played only on iPods,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and an iPod can't play downloads from other stores that rival the extensive iTunes music catalog from major artists and labels <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>Ã<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>¢<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>‚<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>¬<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>€<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>�<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> like Sony's Connect and <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Napster.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Apple described the original version of the copyright bill as <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"state-sponsored piracy"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> earlier this year,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but a company spokesman was not immediately available to comment on Friday's vote.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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In a statement issued after lawmakers hashed out the final compromise text last week,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Apple said it hoped the market would be left to decide <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"which music players and online music stores are offered to consumers.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The final compromise asserts that companies should share the required technical data with any rival that wants to offer compatible music players and online stores,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but it toned down many of the tougher measures backed by lower-house lawmakers early on.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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It also maintained a loophole introduced by senators,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> which could allow Cupertino,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Calif.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>-based Apple and others to dodge the data-sharing demands by striking new deals with record labels and artists