Consumer groups wage war on Apple DRM

Four organisations representing Finnish, French, German and Norwegian consumers are using their combined muscle to take Apple to task, demanding interoperability between its download service iTunes and MP3 players made by rivals.

The four parties - UFC-Que Choisir of France, the Federation of German Consumers Groups and the ombudsmen from Finland and Norway, which have all previously started legal action against Apple in their respective countries - are now uniting to persuade Apple to open up its DRM.

A statement from the four said: "Our objective is to allow all European users of the iTunes platform to benefit from fair conditions of use." They also insist that before the end of September 2007, Apple must create interoperability between songs downloaded from iTunes and digital music players not made by Apple.

According to the foursome, there are three options open to the iPod maker. Firstly, to negotiate with record companies to abandon DRM.

The second possibility is to license its DRM to other MP3-player manufacturers to enable them to make their kit compatible with iTunes. Apple has always rejected this idea, with the exception of allowing Motorola which has in the past made handsets featuring iTunes.

The last option is to work with others to make a common DRM standard - essentially meaning Apple will have to collaborate with companies such as Microsoft and Real Networks.

The consumer associations are also demanding Apple ditches "unfair clauses" in its contracts. The partners said: "These demands take into account the technical characteristics of the sector and leave iTunes a reasonable time to change its practices with the long-term aim of protecting the interests of consumers."

Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

Estelle Dumout writes for ZDNet France