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Apple's iTunes an outlaw in Norway

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
Tom Krazit

Regulators in Norway have deemed Apple's iTunes Store illegal in their country because the songs won't work on anything but an iPod, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.

The report said that Apple has to allow other companies access to iTunes songs by October 1 or further legal action will ensue, which could involve a shutdown of the site if taken all the way. European regulators have been taking a music business recently, with news earlier this week that France and Germany are conducting simliar investigations.

Apple has so far been able to keep the iTunes Store up and running in Europe, after an attempt by the French to pass a law mandating interoperability failed. The company told the Financial Times that "Apple hopes that European governments will encourage a competitive environment that lets innovation thrive, protects intellectual property and allows consumers to decide which products are successful."