Scandinavia pressures Apple’s iTunes

> STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Denmark, Norway and Sweden plan to force Apple Computers Inc to break the exclusive link between its iPod music players and online iTunes store.

> The three Scandinavian countries have decided to take iTunes to their respective government mediators, or ombudsmen.

> At present, the only portable players able to play files downloaded form iTunes are Apple’s own iPods.

> “iTunes’ terms and conditions are illegal in all three countries,” Swedish Consumer Agency spokeswoman Marianne Aabyhammar told AFP Friday.

France tried doing the same thing and failed, so we’ll see how this pans out. Apple has quite a few lawyers, and I’m sure they’ve checked that what they’re doing in each country iTunes is available is legal.

Published June 18, 2006

Filed in Internet, Music