EU takes aim at Apple's iTunes

European Union consumer chief Meglena Kuneva has hit out at Apple's bundling of its popular iPod music players and its iTunes online music store, according to German weekly magazine Focus.

"Do you think it's fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don't. Something has to change," EU consumer protection commissioner Kuneva was quoted as saying in a preview of an interview to be published today.

Apple could not be immediately reached for comment on the report.

Norway, which is not in the EU, is battling Apple for the same reason. In January, it said the computer and software giant must liberalise its music download system by 1 October or face legal action.

Pressure on Apple has been building, with consumer rights organisations from Germany, France, Finland and Norway recently agreeing on a joint position in their battles against iTunes.

They argue that Apple uses digital rights management technology to limit consumers' free use of songs bought on iTunes, including the ability to copy and transfer songs to other users and other MP3 devices besides the Apple iPod.

Both at the national and EU levels, however, the issue has been looked at by consumer agencies rather than the competition watchdogs whose role it is to decide whether a business activity violates rules on fair competition.

Commission spokeswoman Helen Kearns in Brussels confirmed Kuneva's comment reported by the magazine, but said the comment represented the commissioner's personal views, not those of the Commission.

"I don't think she was stating it as a definitive policy position. At this stage it is her gut instinct," Kearns said.

Kuneva is leading a review of the eight basic laws that govern cross-border consumer rights.

That review, which has just begun and has so far resulted in a preliminary document that raises questions, eventually will lead to proposed revisions of current EU laws, the Kearns said.

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