Norway drops complaint against Apple’s iTunes

OSLO (AFP) — Norway’s consumer watchdog said Wednesday it had dropped a complaint against Apple’s iTunes after the company said songs sold via its music service would be compatible with all MP3 players, not just the iPod.

“We have no reason to pursue them anymore,” consumer mediator Bjørn Erik Thon told AFP.

Thon said in November he would take iTunes before a Norwegian government agency, the Market Council, for failing to make its online store compatible with music players other than its iPod.

The Market Council is a kind of consumer court that can impose fines and require a company to change its practices.

Apple had long turned a deaf ear to complaints from European consumer associations, but announced on January 6 that as of April all iTunes songs would be free of anti-piracy digital rights management (DRM) software that prevents music from being copied.

The move makes it possible for the songs to be played on other digital music devices as well.

Thon said the Norwegian consumer agency would inform iTunes of its decision this week.

Source: AFP