[A2k] Dutch consumer chief puts Apple through the mill

[Michelle Childs]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/25/dutch_out_of_tune_with_apple/

Dutch consumer chief puts Apple through the mill
Europe rises up against iTunes

By Jan Libbenga → More by this author
Published Thursday 25th January 2007 17:00 GMT.

The Netherlands has joined Scandinavian led action against Apple's digital
rights management lock on its iPod device and iTunes software.

Apple is coming under increasing pressure from EU nations (including
Germany, France, Sweden and Finland) who want to force the company to
unlock its iTunes software so it can be used with other MP3 players.

Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman Bj=F8rn Erik Thon ruled Wednesday that iTunes
violates his country's consumer law. He has set a 1 October deadline for
iTunes to alter its conditions.

The Dutch Consumer Ombudsman lodged a complaint not only with the newly
formed Dutch Consumer Authority (ConsumentenAutoriteit), which will act as
the enforcer of 15 European consumer protection directives, but also with
the Dutch anti-trust agency.

The Consumer Ombudsman says it was already in discussion with Apple over
its iTunes service. Apple doesn't tell its customers the iTunes software
only runs on iPods, which the Ombudsman says is "misleading". "Norway's
ultimatum have encouraged us," a spokesman for the organisation said
today.

Apple dominates the Dutch internet download market with a 50 per cent share=
.

In an official statement earlier this week, Apple said it is aware of the
concerns from several agencies in Europe and looking forward to resolving
these issues as quickly as possible. =AE


--
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




--
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