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EU investigates iTunes over UK overcharging
11p could land Apple in hot water

By Jo Best

Published: Friday 25 February 2005

The European Union has launched an investigation into the iTunes online music store, after the Office of Fair Trading referred complaints to the EC over Apple's UK pricing.

The EC has announced that it is investigating iTunes' pricing structure, which sees UK customers paying some pence more than their counterparts who pay with euros. A single track from the UK iTunes store costs 79p, whereas the same song from the French or German iTunes stores costs 99 euro cents or around 68p.

The 11p price differential, and the fact that UK consumers can't buy from European iTunes stores without a European billing address, could mean Apple is breaking European law.

The Consumers Association initially reported Apple to the OFT in September, claiming it is using an anti-competitive and discriminatory pricing structure.

Apple declined to comment on the investigation.