Apple iTunes: France gets a toned down download law

France gets a toned down download law

The French parliament has finally approved a toned down version of the law, which was seen as a problem for Apple Computers and their iTunes service.

This law has been designed to limit the domination of companies like Apple or Microsoft in the digital media market and was opposed in its original form. Market analysts claimed that Apple might move out of the French market if that version was passed in the parliament.

The approved law allows online distributors to retain significant control over Digital Rights Management technologies applied on the music. Apple and other companies would however now require to get permissions from the copyright holders to sell songs in restricted format on the net.

The law also allows the consumer to make private copies of the works they purchase. However, it is not clear how many copies are allowed by the law.