In France, the iPod may not be on its way out after all. Certain French lawmakers this week agreed to "weaker measures," according to the Associated Press, than those drafted in March that would have
forced Apple Computer and other companies to make their music players and online stores compatible with rivals. Currently, songs purchased at Apple's music store iTunes cannot be played on other media
players. Lawmakers have reached some sort of accord with digital music companies: a loophole that could allow Apple and others to dodge the law by striking exclusive agreements with record labels and
artists. This would incentivize Apple and others to pay extra for the digital rights to certain music. Under the draft adopted four months ago, The National Assembly ruled that companies must share
their digital rights management technology with competitors, free of charge. In the wake of the decision, lawmakers came under pressure from those music companies that want to keep their proprietary
technology private; the new deal is the resulting compromise. Ultimately, the power is with the copyright holder--"perhaps as it should be--"whether or not a piece of music is sold to one or many
online music providers. The AP says that several other European countries are also mulling similar action against companies like Apple.
Read the whole story at The Associated Press »
