According to Reuters: "European Union consumer chief Meglena Kuneva has hit out at Apple Inc.'s bundling of its popular iPod music players and its iTunes online music store, according to German weekly magazine Focus."
"Do you think it's fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don't. Something has to change," EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Kuneva was quoted as saying in a preview of an interview to be published on Monday.
Later, the story says: "A Commission spokeswoman in Brussels confirmed Kuneva's comment reported by the magazine but said it represented the commissioner's personal views, not those of the Commission."
This one has been rumbling along for a couple of years, and I wrote a column about the background and possible solutions last month. I suspect the pressure on Apple is likely to build, rather than go away.
Update: According to Reuters on March 13: "The European Union's consumer chief soft-pedalled her views on Apple Inc on Tuesday, backing off the line that its iTunes online music store must become more compatible with other formats." The story says: "Kuneva said she worked closely with Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, whose department has found no reason to pursue Apple."
Sounds like Kuneva got a severe telling off.....
