- In typically cocky fashion Apple, a hard-core US corporation which answers only to its shareholders, has finally agreed to discuss complaints from consumer agencies and other rights groups in Scandinavia that iTunes Apple C.R.A.P. breaches consumer laws.

Nordic regulators are slated to meet in Iceland this month to discuss possible legal action against Apple Computer Inc and with that on the horizon, the company has “responded in writing and wants a face-to-face discussion as well,” Reuters has Sweden's acting consumer ombudsman, Marianne Abyhammar, saying.

"They (Apple) have asked to meet the authorities and explain their position," she said. "We will call such a meeting, to be held in Oslo, as soon as possible."

Apple's C.R.A.P. Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) blocks portable devices other than Apple iPods from playing iTunes downloads.

“While US antitrust officials seem content to let Apple's growing monopoly grow, several European countries appear less willing to let Apple so easily steamroll their consumers,” says ZDNet's Between the Lines, going on:

“France correctly spotted the potential market dangers of Apple's growing share, drafted a law, and then removed that law's most important teeth in what is pretty much a joke in antitrust intervention.

“But in Norway, Apple's implementation already violates that country's laws. And two other Scandinavian countries - Sweden and Denmark - are also concerned about the degree to which Apple' digital rights management (DRM) technology known as FairPlay affords the Cupertino, CA company an opportunity for nearly unimpeded market domination.”

Of the proposed meeting, “Let's see,” says ZDNet. “Could that be because every time a song or video is sold through the iTunes Music Store, the buyers of those songs or videos will have no choice but to either own iPods and iTunes software for the rest of their lives or throw away their investment in content? You see? That growing 'installed-base' of iPod only content is what is securing Apple's future. Quite franky, it's a great plan - an amazing plan actually - if no one (or no country) is prepared to stop the company.”

Also See:
C.R.A.P. - Apple and its C.R.A.P., March 4, 2006
slated to meet - iTunes Nordic row intensifies, August 16, 2006
Reuters - Scandinavians to meet Apple over iTunes, August 16, 2006
ZDNet - Apple to meet with Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes over alleged unfairness of FairPlay, August 17, 2006