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1.  

   Lock in?

   

   Colin, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 12:54pm

   
   

   Interesting, I thought a free market would mean a company is free to *try* and lock you in to a system but you're free to choose another option.

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2.  

   No Subject Given

   

   Anonymous Coward, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 1:17pm

   
   

   This is one of the dumbest things that I've heard lately. As a consumer I'm sensitive to corps taking advantage of us, but where is that in this case? Apple runs iTunes as it sees fit, even with the DRM most consumers either like the store or simply stay away from it. Why should it be any different in Norway? Even with itunes dominant market position, it's not like they are trying to keep competitors from their space. There are numerous alternatives. If they are too expensive this is because of the RIAA's pressure and because the companies running such services don't want to operate a loss leader. If a user wants to get the benifits of the low costs and selection iTunes store offers they can do so. The cost of entry is the price of the cheapest iPod. Don't wanna buy it? Simply don't use the effing iTunes store, why is that difficult?

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3.  

   ridiculous

   

   Posterlogo, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 2:18pm

   
   

   Don't use the damn iTMS to buy your music if you don't like the DRM. Don't blame the damn company for providing a product the way it wants to. If it is truly not customer-friendly, then it will suffer, as it should. The RIAA is doing everthing it can to screw over legitimate consumers, and such will suffer. I've reduced the amount of music I buy because of all the garbage (real and symbolic) that comes with it. I think if the lawsuit goes through, Apple should just cutoff the whole country if that is indeed deemed to be more cost-effective.

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4.  

   Re: ridiculous

   

   Rick, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 3:01pm

   
   

   I thought the problem with not using the iTMS service, is it's the only service that sells things that will play on an iPod - your only other choice is to use pirated music, correct?

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5.  

   Re: ridiculous

   

   Rikko, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 3:15pm

   
   

   Doesn't that same argument work towards the MS antitrust suits? Will you say the same thing if dairy distributors says their milk is now only for sale bundled with a block of cheddar cheese?
   
   Suffice it to say we don't know how Norway's fair use laws work so we can hardly comment. At the surface it sounds silly but I'm sure there's sense in there somewhere.

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6.  

   No Subject Given

   

   garrett, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 3:17pm

   
   

   Apple can do whatever the heck it feels like regarding iTunes and iPod - it produces both. It really isn't all that difficult to understand... don't like iTunes DRM? Don't buy songs from iTunes. Don't like iPod's lack of support for other DRM schemes? Don't buy an iPod.
   
   There are so many other options besides the iTunes/iPod combo.

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7.  

   Re: ridiculous

   

   Joele, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 3:19pm

   
   

   That is not correct. There are a few (or many) out there that can place music on the ipod, but they are not Apple made which many customers ignore to be in favor of. Even Windows Media Player now has the ability to transfer you music [haven't tried video] to the iPod.

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8.  

   Re: ridiculous

   

   Colin, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 3:31pm

   
   

   I think the principal of elasticity of demand is being missed here. Microsoft was being called a monopoly, farmers are almost the exact opposite of a monopoly.In fact when teaching the principals of economics these two industries are frequently contrasted.
   
   Apple's music market is not a monopoly.

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9.  

   Re: ridiculous

   

   Jay, Jan 27th, 2006 @ 11:52pm

   
   

   It's funny how when Apple does it, it's OK, but when the record companies do it, it's not.

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10.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    

    Paul, Jan 28th, 2006 @ 2:04am

    
    

    Apple can do whatever the heck it feels like regarding iTunes and iPod - it produces both. It really isn't all that difficult to understand... don't like iTunes DRM? Don't buy songs from iTunes. Don't like iPod's lack of support for other DRM schemes? Don't buy an iPod.
    There are so many other options besides the iTunes/iPod combo.

    Apple have a market share monopoly on the portable media player market! And they're using iTunes to maintain that monopoly. Anybody who wants to stop using iPods, will have to go out and buy all their music again to use it on a "no.brand" mp3 player. Once you're in, you're stuck in.

    This is exactly the same thing that caused the anti-trust cases against Microsoft. But since Apple aren't Microsoft people like you will probably just let them get away with it......

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11.  

    Re: No Subject Given

    

    Paul, Jan 28th, 2006 @ 8:06am

    
    

    A monopoly in itself is not illegal. Microsoft got it's reputation by bullying other companies to do what it wanted, making ridiculous exclusive contracts to stifle competition and innovation.
    Apple started something fantastic! Apple actually made it possible for its competitors to exist. Apple is not forcing any MP3 player manufacturers to use its DRM. They are not bullying musicians to sign up with only them.
    You don't have to use the iPod to listen to their music. You can listen to it on your computer and burn it to cd. That in itself is allowing your right to fair use. Where is the evil?
    I can't stand DRM, and will not buy RIAA music until they stop their dinosaur like ways of business and only listen to independant artists. I even only play them on my podcast. I have access to over 7000 tracks of great music and counting. Who needs RIAA artists and their cookie cutter content?

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12.  

    No Subject Given

    

    Anonymous Brave, Jan 28th, 2006 @ 8:24pm

    
    

    How 'bout just using Tunes to burn a CD then ripping it with CDEX or Sound Juicer. Boy, that was tough. F'ing moron.

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13.  

    Not as bad as it sounds

    

    Ben, Mar 15th, 2006 @ 6:24am

    
    

    The socalled "Norwegian consumer group" is actually the Consumer Council, a public advicory service. Their mandate is to protect consumers rights and to see a case from a consumers view, therefore some of their claims may seem ridiculous.
    If no legal precedence has been set they may take a case to the courts in behalf of consumers. Thus the consumer runs no financial risk if the case is lost.
    I don't think they will go to court in the iTunes case. After all you can just buy your music somwhere else.
    I'm from Norway so please excuse my limited english.

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