CNET: Apple Calls Proposed French Law "State-Sponsored Piracy"

Cupertino, Calif. -- A day after French lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a bill that would force Cupertino-based Apple to allow songs purchased from its iTunes Store to play on devices other than the iPod, the company called the move "state-sponsored piracy," CNET News.com reported. "If this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customers," Apple said. "iPod sales will likely increase as users freely load their iPods with 'interoperable' music which cannot be adequately protected. Free movies for iPods should not be far behind in what will rapidly become a state-sponsored culture of piracy." If passed in the French Senate, the bill would force Apple to reveal its closely-guarded digital rights management technology to competitors, or face the prospect of shuttering its iTunes Store in France. Gene Munster, a senior analyst with Piper Jaffray, speculated in a research note on Tuesday that France likely accounts for less than 2% of Apple's worldwide iPod and iTunes business.
http://news.com.com/Apple+calls+French+law+state-sponsored+piracy/2100-1025_3-6052754.html?tag=nefd.top