France approves the bill that messes with Apple iTunes

France approves the bill that messes with Apple iTunes

Apple Computers have some problems in their hands in the French market as the France government has finally approved an online copyright bill, which would require the iPod maker to break open the exclusive format powering their online digital store Apple iTunes.

This draft law would require companies like Apple and Sony to share proprietary copy-protection technologies so that rivals can offer compatible services and players. It also brings penalties for people who pirate music.

However, this bill would still require to be approved by the Senate and this process should begin by May this year. Apple has already expressed their reservation for this bill as they claimed that it would “result in state-sponsored piracy.”

Apple claimed that this bill would result in people moving back to pirating digital music after they have slowly turned into legal services for purchasing music online.