[A2k] Norwegian regulator gives Steve Jobs cool response

[Michelle Childs]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/07/norway_on_jobs_letter/
Norwegian regulator gives Steve Jobs cool response
Do your job, Jobs
By John Oates =81=A8 Published Wednesday 7th February 2007 13:22 GMT

 The Norwegian Consumer Council, which complains Apple and its iTunes
music store acts illegally under Norwegian law, has reacted cautiously to
Steve Jobs' letter calling for an end to Digital Rights Management.

The Norwegian Ombudsman ruled in favour of the consumer council complaint
last month. Germany and France both support the Norwegian action.

Yesterday, Jobs said Apple would switch to selling DRM-free music "in a
heartbeat", if the music labels allowed it.

But while his comments are generally welcomed by the Ombudsman, although
the regulator points out that he cannot just blame the record companies.

But Forbrukerradet, the Norwegian Consumer Council, said: "It's quite
clear that the record companies carry their share of the responsibility
for the situation that the consumers are stuck in. However, no matter what
agreements iTunes Music Store have entered into, they're still the company
that's selling music to the consumers and are responsible for offering the
consumer a fair deal according to Norwegian law."

A spokesman for Forbrukerradet told The Reg: "Firstly we're very happy
he's come out and made a statement, it shows they're taking this issue
seriously. But secondly we see it as a strategic move to shift the issue
to the record labels. iTunes is the record store which sells music to
Norwegian consumers as such they have to follow Norwegian law. It's not
good enough to say they have problems with suppliers and their hands are
tied."

Apple has until 1 March to come up with a solution to concerns about its
terms and conditions and DRM. It then has until 1 October to show it is
implementing that solution


--
Michelle Childs -Head of European Affairs
Consumer Project on Technology in London
24, Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX,UK.
Tel:+44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252.
Mob:+44(0)790 386 4642. Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607
http://www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA .Tel.:
+1.202.332.2670,Fax: +1.202.332.2673

Consumer Project on Technology in Geneva
1 Route des  Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 6727