French Court Throws Out Itunes Law

The French Constitutional Council has rejected parts of a law recently passed that would have required Apple Computer to open access to its iTunes music and to its iPod portable music players. Under the legislation, companies would be forced to allow their music formats to be played on other companies’ devices, as well as to allow other music formats to be played on all devices. Apple Computer, with its extremely popular iPods and iTunes, stood to lose the most under the law. But the Constitutional Council, which reviews all laws passed in the country, ruled that the law violated Apple’s right to be compensated for technology it developed. The council did not reject the notion of forced interoperability, however, saying only that Apple should be paid by competitors for the technology. The law may now need to be completely rewritten and resubmitted to parliament for a new vote.

The Register, 31 July 2006