news.com.com— The EU commission says major record companies are forcing Apple to curtail access to iTunes online stores across borders, leading to higher prices.
Apr 4, 2007View in Crawl 4
It's like an American complaining that they couldn't buy a song for .99 pesos, but a Mexican can in Mexico./obviously a song will not go for .99 pesos (99 centavos). That would just be too cheap. But you get the idea.Besides, last I checked, no one forced people to buy from itunes. If there is a problem, go to a competitor, maybe Apple will get mad and lower their price. No need for legal battles. I get mad I have to drive 10 min to get of the city to get cheap food, but I won't sue the in city stores for my 10 min trip.
Apple can serve the market they want. They're smart enough to decide on their own.The EU government should stay out of companies' way. People don't want an "open european market". They want a free european market.
The RIAA is most likely responsible for this but the DRM is all Apple. Why are independent artists songs being tagged with DRM from Apple? They don't require it and in most cases don't want it but Apple puts it on their songs. Apparently it is technically possible for Apple to sell these songs without DRM but they wont. Apple has a long way to go before they prove that it doesn't want/like DRM.
I would think it is the record companies the same way the movie companies tried region coding on DVDS. Do you really thing region coding was about piracy? It is all about market segmentation so you can extract more cash.
finally someone saw the light!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Record companies do that for decades.A CD or DVD that costs 20 dollars in the USA, costs 25 euros (~30 dollars) in europe and 10 dollars in south america.If they are profiting in south america selling the product for half or 1/3 of the price, why they overprice in the USA and EUROPE?Simple, cause they are greedy. They want all they can get.Apple TV that costs 299 dollars in the USA, costs 299 euros in europe (~399 dollars). we want the same price all over the world!
@justnickApple just announced they were offering higher quality non-DRM tracks and albums for all EMI artists beginning in May and they want to continue that trend. I'm certain that will include independent artists who never wanted DRM as this is a feature they want and will not require much of a "sell" compared to the other major labels.To be honest, I don't think Apple cares about DRM. It was a requirement from the major labels in order to sell their songs online, like or dislike does not factor into the equation as it was a requirement in order to sell music online from the RIAA. Apple created a reasonable DRM scheme that is easy for most consumers as part of the agreement with the labels. Some consumers had a problem with this, but most don't even know what DRM is or how it works. Those who did have issue raised very valid argument and government also got involved. Apple was proactive and worked with EMI to provide a new product to satisfy the consumers who had issue with DRM and maintained the existing product for those consumers who never took objection.So we have a company who provides a service, people had a problem with a portion of the service, and steps are being taken by the company and governing agencies to resolve the problem. Who cares who's at fault if the issue is being corrected?
lonesomefighterApr 5, 2007
It's like an American complaining that they couldn't buy a song for .99 pesos, but a Mexican can in Mexico./obviously a song will not go for .99 pesos (99 centavos). That would just be too cheap. But you get the idea.Besides, last I checked, no one forced people to buy from itunes. If there is a problem, go to a competitor, maybe Apple will get mad and lower their price. No need for legal battles. I get mad I have to drive 10 min to get of the city to get cheap food, but I won't sue the in city stores for my 10 min trip.
ronaldstApr 5, 2007
Apple can serve the market they want. They're smart enough to decide on their own.The EU government should stay out of companies' way. People don't want an "open european market". They want a free european market.
justnickApr 5, 2007
The RIAA is most likely responsible for this but the DRM is all Apple. Why are independent artists songs being tagged with DRM from Apple? They don't require it and in most cases don't want it but Apple puts it on their songs. Apparently it is technically possible for Apple to sell these songs without DRM but they wont. Apple has a long way to go before they prove that it doesn't want/like DRM.
graystarApr 5, 2007
I would think it is the record companies the same way the movie companies tried region coding on DVDS. Do you really thing region coding was about piracy? It is all about market segmentation so you can extract more cash.
welshieApr 5, 2007
rule 1 of empire building. Divide and conquer, and sod the consequencesrule 2 : bread and circuses.Many record companies seem to have forgotten rule 2
hairypoterApr 5, 2007
finally someone saw the light!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Record companies do that for decades.A CD or DVD that costs 20 dollars in the USA, costs 25 euros (~30 dollars) in europe and 10 dollars in south america.If they are profiting in south america selling the product for half or 1/3 of the price, why they overprice in the USA and EUROPE?Simple, cause they are greedy. They want all they can get.Apple TV that costs 299 dollars in the USA, costs 299 euros in europe (~399 dollars). we want the same price all over the world!
sketchydaveApr 5, 2007
@justnickApple just announced they were offering higher quality non-DRM tracks and albums for all EMI artists beginning in May and they want to continue that trend. I'm certain that will include independent artists who never wanted DRM as this is a feature they want and will not require much of a "sell" compared to the other major labels.To be honest, I don't think Apple cares about DRM. It was a requirement from the major labels in order to sell their songs online, like or dislike does not factor into the equation as it was a requirement in order to sell music online from the RIAA. Apple created a reasonable DRM scheme that is easy for most consumers as part of the agreement with the labels. Some consumers had a problem with this, but most don't even know what DRM is or how it works. Those who did have issue raised very valid argument and government also got involved. Apple was proactive and worked with EMI to provide a new product to satisfy the consumers who had issue with DRM and maintained the existing product for those consumers who never took objection.So we have a company who provides a service, people had a problem with a portion of the service, and steps are being taken by the company and governing agencies to resolve the problem. Who cares who's at fault if the issue is being corrected?