Norway says iTunes is illegal

[Gregg]

to you too

[tacit]

How about looking at it from the other end...since when was an artist supposed to be forced into making his/her music (art) available to all? If an artist CHOOSES to only have music available on iTunes, shouldn't that artist be allowed to do so? Knowing full well that the music will only play in iTunes on a computer or on an iPod?

No.

It is not illegal to be a monopoly, and it is not illegal to sign exclusive publication or distribution deals. It is, however, illegal in the US and in most western European countries to use a monopoly or an exclusive licensing deal in one industry to promote or create a monopoly in a different industry.

So for example, it was not illegal for Microsoft to have an operating system monopoly; it only became illegal when they used that operating system monopoly to try to create a Web browser monopoly.

In this case, what's illegal is Apple using exclusive distribution rights in one industry--music publishing--to leverage a monopoly in a different industry--making portable music players.

This stems from the old days of Standard Oil, which locked out competitors by signing exclusive deals with railroad freight companies that said they would not ship freight for any other oil company. Any transportation company is free to sign exclusive deals with anyone they choose; but what became illegal is using those deals to promote a monopoly in an unrelated industry.

It's OK if Apple signs exclusive music distribution rights with artists or labels, as long as they allow other people to make music players that will play iTunes music. It is Ok if Apple is the only one to make players that work with iTunes music, as long as they do not sign exclusive iTunes licenses. What's not legal is if they do both--prevent others from making music players that work with iTunes and also set up deals that mean you can't get some music anywhere except iTunes.

[krissel]

QUOTE(tacit @ Jan 29 2007, 05:28 PM) [snapback]117345[/snapback]

also set up deals that mean you can't get some music anywhere except iTunes.

That's my major point. Pardon my ignorance but is there music on iTunes that is only available there and no where else? I haven't explored it that deeply so I don't know.

[tacit]

QUOTE(krissel @ Jan 30 2007, 04:48 AM) [snapback]117382[/snapback]

That's my major point. Pardon my ignorance but is there music on iTunes that is only available there and no where else? I haven't explored it that deeply so I don't know.

Yep. There are some albums and artists in the iTunes library for which exclusive licensing deals have been signed; you can't legally get them online anywhere but iTunes.

[Gregg]

Ok, so the market in Norway is how big?? :s@#*'em:

[Mrious_be]

Hi Everyone

Been a while that I was here so I didn't checked up the entire topic, sorry.
But what I just want to add is that according to me it's inevitable for iTunes (and any other music store as it matters) to sell their music and only be playable on certain music devices.
Not saying it will happen this year or even next... but I do feel iTunes will have to open up to all available players on the market.
To my feeling, it's only fair to do this cause you can't force people to buy iPods... although I do feel they are the best
It also goes the way arround though, you can't force people to buy music on iTunes just cause they bought the coolest and best media player available.
It worked so far, and it worked really well for Apple so far but at the end, they will have to open up.
I feel however that both iTunes and iPod's have a really strong background to keep being number one on the market without have to be connected to each other.
Apple is probably just hanging on to them being linked together for as long as possible.

[kps]

I doubt this'll go anywhere and if it does,  the Norwegians will be buying their iPods and iTunes music in Schveeeed'n. LOL

But seriously, I don't think Apple wants to set some unfavorable precedent in the EU community. Apple will have to resolve this, otherwise it'll open up opportunities for more of the same.  Others will try to chip away at the iPod's market share and it'll be interesting to see how they'll do it and what Apple's response will be.

[Xairbusdriver]

I'm a little conflicted about this whole matter.

1. I don't see this as a real human problem in our world.
2. Artists who want to sign exclusive agreements should be able to do so if they wish.
3. Companies that include DRM on their products don't usually have a choice in the matter, that's a price of doing business with the content providers.
4. Consumers who want to use other companies protected products on every machine they own should expect to have problems. There ain't no free lunch, yet, even on the internet.
5. Apple had to make concessions to content providers in order to have product to sell. Asking/telling them to make it available to everyone else is not logical, to me. Even if it is considered 'monopolistic'.

How is anyone harmed by not being able to listen/watch a song/video? It's entertainment, for crying out loud. It's not something that controls our transportation, energy supply, health or safety. Who says anyone has the 'right' to use any machine to do anything with another companies delivery system?

I think most governments should stick to providing nation-wide protection from generally recognized threats to their citizens health and safety; health standards, transportation safety, ID security, education delivery standards, etc. Strange as it may seem, 'entertainment' is at the bottom of my needs list. Too many people seem to be more concerned about their wants than their needs, IMHO.

That's my 2 cents, anyway.

[sandyman]

QUOTE(Gregg @ Jan 31 2007, 03:16 AM) [snapback]117484[/snapback]

Ok, so the market in Norway is how big?? :s@#*'em:

Norway's pretty insignificant (bars the door and prepares to repel Vikings ).  

Apple would find it more of a problem if the EU gets involved. There, your talking about a market larger than the US, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand combined.

[Gregg]

QUOTE(sandyman @ Feb 2 2007, 03:15 AM) [snapback]117677[/snapback]

Apple would find it more of a problem if the EU gets involved. There, your talking about a market larger than the US, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand combined.

The EU is that big??

Broken down by individual countries, the U.S. has several states that would break into the top ten.

[sandyman]

QUOTE(Gregg @ Feb 2 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]117690[/snapback]

The EU is that big??

Broken down by individual countries, the U.S. has several states that would break into the top ten.

According to The Wikipedia  Population  - 2007 estimate    493,000,000

[Gregg]

Of course, my statement was relative to the size of the economy of the states.

That population figure is interesting though.

[sandyman]

QUOTE(Gregg @ Feb 2 2007, 06:10 PM) [snapback]117716[/snapback]

Of course, my statement was relative to the size of the economy of the states.

That ppoulation figure is interesting though.

Economy wise I think you'll find it's much the same in many ways

Germany + UK + France + Italy + Spain to start with

[krissel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...y_GDP_%28PPP%29

[Gregg]

QUOTE(krissel @ Feb 2 2007, 06:29 PM) [snapback]117771[/snapback]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...y_GDP_%28PPP%29

Well, from those lists, it's a dead heat. If two have the EU ahead, and one has the US ahead, it's a statistical tie. Still, that surprises me. One day, China will be the undisputed champion....