Europeans fight iTunes

Yesterday officials in Norway announced that German and French consumer groups have joined a Nordic-led drive to force Apple, Inc. to make songs purchased from the iTunes Store compatible with media players built by competitors. CNN reports:

Currently, songs purchased and downloaded through iTunes are designed to work with Apple's market-leading iPod players but not competitors' models, including those using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media system. Likewise, iPods generally can't play copy-protected music sold through non-Apple stores.

In June 2006 consumer groups in Norway, Denmark and Sweden claimed that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in their countries by selling music that was only capable of being played on Apple hardware (iPod) and software (iTunes).

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