Norway's consumer agency, which, as previously reported, had demanded Apple respond to some of its concerns regarding iTunes, have released the non-confidential parts of the computer firm's response. Norwegian regulators have said that they are concerned about the End Users Agreement iTunes customers have to adhere to, which allows the computer firm to change the usage rules on a track after purchase. They also object to Apple using their proprietary DRM to lock iPod users to iTunes, and iTunes users to the iPod.
In their response Apple denied that their use of a proprietary DRM that meant iTunes tracks will only play on an iPod was unreasonable, stressing that customers could burn iTunes tracks to CD and then play them on any CD device providing they act within the copyright law of their local territory - so an iPod was not essential for playing music bought on iTunes. (There are echoes there of what we said once before could be Apple's defence in all this - ie, that it is so easy to crack any music DRM - by burning tracks to CD and then re-ripping them as MP3 - that Apple aren't really preventing anyone from enjoying their music on any device).
Apple also argued that analysing Apple's business model in this way was not actually within the remit of Norway's consumer rights agency, and that the consumer protection laws that officials had claimed Apple's service violated (that consumers should have the right to listen to music on a device of their choice) related only to music on CD, and not music bought via a download platform. Nevertheless, they did propose a meeting with the agency to "probe possibilities for a mutual agreement".
Representatives for the Norwegian consumer agency told the Associated Press that Apple's response was "not good enough", but admitted that "it seems we may reach an understanding on some points".