News.blog: iTunes an outlaw in Norway

Regulators in Norway have deemed Apple's iTunes Store illegal in their country because the songs won't work on anything but an iPod, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The report said that Apple has to allow other companies access to iTunes songs by 1 October or further legal action will ensue, which could involve a shutdown of the site if taken all the way. European regulators have been taking a hard look at Apple's music business recently, with news earlier this week that France and Germany are conducting similar investigations.

Apple has so far been able to keep the iTunes Store up and running in Europe, after an attempt by the French to pass a law mandating interoperability failed. The company told the Financial Times that "Apple hopes that European governments will encourage a competitive environment that lets innovation thrive, protects intellectual property and allows consumers to decide which products are successful".