Apple has announced that it will cut the price it charges for music downloads in the UK from its iTunes music store within the next ICE - special ...
Fox films 'for rent via iTunes' ...
Apple shuts down rumours website ...
US Delays Planned Withdrawal of Troops from Germany ...
Japan network 'in iPhone talks' ...
Radar on Czech soil to be aimed against Russia-Iranian deputy ... six months.
The cut will bring the UK into line with the charges in the rest of Europe.
Apple currently charges 79 pence per download in the UK, compared with 99 euro cents (74p) in the rest of Europe.
EU regulators began investigating iTunes last year after the consumer group Which? complained about its pricing policies.
Apple is now taking action against record labels that charge more to distribute music in the UK than in the rest of Europe.
"Apple will reconsider its continuing relationship in the UK with any record label that does not lower its wholesale prices in the UK to the pan-European level within six months," the company said in a statement.
Competition rules
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes welcomed the move.
She said it would "allow consumers to benefit from a truly single market for music downloads".
The EU was investigating whether the iTunes store violated its competition rules because each country had its own store and consumers were only allowed to download music if they have a credit card from a bank registered in that country.
Apple said it could not have a single European iTunes store because of copyright restrictions put in place by the record labels.
Which? originally lodged its complaint with the EU in 2004.
(BBC)
<< Back