Apple Hit with iTunes Lawsuit
What would a week in the tech-world be without another questionable lawsuit against Apple? Apple is already facing a lawsuit for dropping the price of the iPhone and another one filed on the behalf of someone who iBricked his iPhone and is mad.
This time around Apple is being sued by a Florida resident Frederick Black who filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, claiming the company is attempting to establish a monopoly over the digital media market by "illegally" tying iPods to the iTunes Store.
According to Apple Insider, Black asserts, among many things, that Apple acts unlawfully in not letting its consumers transfer iTunes-purchased content to a non-iPod device or transfer other online vendors' content to their iPods. Also, if consumers happen to lose or break their iPod, the lawsuit asserts users are unable to transfer songs purchased through iTunes to a non-Apple device and have to repurchase an iPod as a result.
There are so many things troubling about this case I don't know where to start. First did someone forget to tell Black about how to add DRM-free files to iTunes that are purchased from online music stores like Amazon music download service or eMusic? ITunes also allows anyone to buy iTunes Plus tracks with no DRM that can be played on any device.
Also, if you feel your Apple iTunes' library is imprisoned by iTunes software there are ways to convert Apple AAC files. There are several programs such as AppleMacSoftware DRM Converter for Mac, Magic AAC to MP3 Converter, and MP3&WAV Converter that will get the job done.
A few years back PC World wrote about how to beat the music download blues which gives some great tips on how frustrated folks can solve their music download problems without getting their attorney involved.
The case, which was filed in Florida district court in August, has made it to the US District Court for the Southern District of California. Black is seeking in excess of $15,000 in damages, even up to $45,000 for attorneys' fees, damages and any further relief.
PC World's Marketplace
PC World's Free Whitepapers
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
Good points about DRM-free music and being able to convert iTunes DRM music to MP3. $15,000 is a lot of money, but I doubt he's purchased as much from iTunes... Frivolous indeed, not to mention greedy.
And if he has $15,000 in iTunes purchases, shame on him for not looking at the limitations on the product.
No-one sued VW when they discovered that the Beetle wouldn't do do 160 MPH on the Autobahn. Nor did anyone sue Apple when they discovered that some Apple programs they bought wouldn't run on the Windows laptop they bought to replace it. ..................
Read the small print Mr. Black!
it = the original Apple laptop they 'lost or broke'.....
What are people such tards! He should not even own an iPod if does not know the hacks around it.. Anyway, iTunes is the best player to date, and trust me I have used every media player, OS, etc...get a life black...I hope he read this....You are an idiot!!!
There might be a viable case to see with Mr. Black, as it doesn't seem that all of his points are particulary invalid, except for the "illegal" tying. In my opinoin, vendors should be free to do this as they please, so long as its not propiertary to the point of inaneness, which the iPod is not. There are other programs that serve the same functionality on Linux.
However, I do contend that iTunes is perhaps one of the more banal media players I've seen out there. Spare me the interface, which isn't at all that grand, and spare me also the iTunes Store. I'm not one to purchase my media if you know what I mean. Give me some real functionality, like VLC. Now if you sued Apple over their lousy media player, then a judge might believe you.
@Shonumi
Dont get me wrong, I was using Rhythmbox, Amarok and VLC, which are great!! I love Linux, but I use a lot of proprietary software, which is required for job. And if you work long hours, hacking your Ubuntu to get your iPhone, and others to work is not fun. But why is this guy suing?. I wish Apple could legally deny these people their products..
Can we beat these people up? I swear, it is precisely because of people like Mr. Black... (who is a communist), that our free market struggles. Use the market Mr. Black! If you don't like a product, then don't buy it. If it turns out different than your pre-conceived notion of it... too friggin bad... live with it. But quit suing to ruin people's hard work. Quit suing to take another bite out of capitalism. He does not want to let Apple do business as they see fit. They're not stopping the competition... they're stomping the competition.. big difference.
hey, leave Mr. Black alone, the lawsuit might be overblown, however he does have some good points. remember, ituen only recently started to offer DRM free tracks. However, the whole world goes nuts over an overpriced mp3 player like ipod. i believe in choices and mostly likely will never own an overpriced "steve jobs" techie toy such as the ipod or the iphone. i believe in choices and i love my sandisk sansa mp3 player..
This is a typical frivolus lawsuit. Let it die in court and let Mr. Black pay for it when he looses.
I?m tired of all this ?my computer is better than yours, so I?m going to sue your computers maker for some percieved injury to my person because my computer doesn?t do what yours does? mentality. If you did your research properly when you made your purchase in the first place, you?d be happy now with what you have. If you didn?t do any research about your purchase and you are unhappy about it now, then too bad. Maybe in the future you will learn and next time you?ll think before you buy the shiny new toy that doesn?t work and buy the one that does.
Yes, I?m a Mac user, and I use iTunes and an iPod, if I could afford the prices ATT charges for their cellphone service, I?d have an iPhone, but I can?t afford the ATT charges. As far as priprietary services are concerned, you?ll find that when you are using a Mac, you get refused access to many, MANY websites that are trying to get you to download their music, free or not. I am used to getting the ?We are sorry, but we don?t support Mac? message when I try to use some websites. Even though my Mac will play nearly all formats, but hey, it?s their loss. Even my local TV stations are PC proprietary, they require you to be using only Windows products to access their video products. Yep we?re used to it.
Maybe it?s time we sue Microsoft for proprietary software that doesn?t work? Or how about the websites that use Microsoft products that don?t let you spell your name properly if you have the gaul of having an apostrophe in your name (anybody with an O? will know what I?m talking about).
My two cents......