Nickname: Jean-Roch (from France)

Review: I've read too many times the argument of ripping the iTunes format to CD! That shows exactly why people need to understand what a Digital Right should be --and what it is not today. Ripping an iTunes file implies that you used iTunes software in a first place. You had to install it, regardless of the fact that you may already have a juke box manager you love! In the early days of the LP, there were LPs that could be played only by the player of the same brand. The day the company closed, you could just pray that the player didn't break and that you would have to buy new LPs with the same songs. I don't want to break any right or to facilitate piracy -- not at all. I just wish the protection system would be universal. It's standard to use HTTP to browse the net. If we (in Europe) didn't fight very hard, we would all be browsing the Microsoft Global Network at a much higher cost with no other choice than Windows to do it!

Date reviewed: Jun 15, 2006 7:01 AM

Nickname: Jean-Roch (from France)

Review: I think you are missing one point. What do you think you are buying when you purchase a digital song? I would like to buy a "universal right" to listen to that song, and not just the right to listen to the song on only one type of device. If the maker of my car decided to do as Apple has done, my car would have a player that played only one type of digital song. Then, if wanted to listen to an (iTunes) song in my car, I would have to purchase another right to listen to the same song! That's not fair! I agree to pay for the part of the technology that differs, but I don't find it fair to pay a second time for the part that is in common: the work of the artist. After all, I can't and won't listen to it twice at the same moment. Don't I have a point here?

Date reviewed: Jun 15, 2006 6:45 AM

Nickname: bobbie_mac

Review: iTunes doesn't prevent you from using other music players. You can convert songs right on your computer without even burning to a CD. The whole lawsuit is built on a false premise. If I were a lawyer for Apple, I'd just ask someone in France to produce for me the players iTunes allegedly doesn't work with and throw some songs on them and ask what the problem is.

Date reviewed: Mar 24, 2006 12:07 AM

Nickname: Wynwesting

Review: Apple, tell the French to drop dead and withdraw your iPod from France.

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 4:28 PM

Nickname: Old Soul

Review: It is easy to see why the French are able to introduce such legislation. They are not world leaders in the music and movie industries. There is little or no loss to them. The French thinks it is OK for iPod music to be transferred to any make of player. Try suggesting allowing expensive French perfume to be packaged into Chinese-branded bottles !!

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 12:28 PM

Nickname: Pearmtn

Review: No one is compelled to only use Apple. The choice can and should be made by an educated consumer. That's the responsibility of the consumer, and a factor related to a free market market. The government has no businenss interfering.

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 8:20 AM

Nickname: loehmann

Review: The entire thing is foolish in any case. You can remove DRM from any iTunes purchased track by burning it to a CD to play in the car then ripping it back into your computer. After that you can do whatever you want with it. Maybe the French haven't discovered the CD burner yet?

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 6:41 AM

Nickname: Observer

Review: Ridiculous is the only word I can use for this. Since when is music an industry which is typically nationalized by a government? Even a Socialist government, one would think, would think twice before making such a move. Though of course, this is not "nationalization", per se, it is obviously government intervention in an industry not typically intervened in. Entertainment is what the people want, and if the people want to buy music on iTunes which can only be played on an iPod, they will buy it. If they don't like that, then that gives some other business the ability to capitalize on a music distribution system that is compatible with other music players. This blatantly anti-lassiez-faire system will spell nothing but bad business for everyone.

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 3:48 AM

Nickname: mike

Review: I am so fed up with the whims of DRM, Apple and others to literally rob us blind. I only buy CDs because I want to play them where I want to play them. The idiots who buy digital music have bought into a pablum formula and have agreed to be robbed. Finally a government had the guts to stand up to them. Thank you Fance. Also, you may have noticed some music producers (Geffen in particular) are marketing CDs that won't play on an iPod or your computer at all--only on a CD player like the one in your car. Time for another law. Hey, is anybody in the U.S. Congress paying attention? Or have you been bought off by Hollywood and the tech companies?

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 2:47 AM

Nickname: marty

Review: Congratulations to France! As for Americans - they are used to being abused by companies, getting lousy service and do not object to anything. Integrated player, lock-ups, expired goods in supermarkets and what not. Wake up!

Date reviewed: Mar 23, 2006 2:35 AM