News Archive for 05/04/07

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Apple no-show at hearing

04/07, 9:30am

Apple a no-show at music format hearing

Apple failed to show up for a hearing in which the music industry fought a proposal by the U.S. Congress that would make all music files compatible. At the hearing, the music industry argued that it would be able to deal with the interoperability issues itself, and that the government should not get involved. Lamar Smith, who once sponsored a bill that would have let music companies jam the PCs of illegal downloaders, said: "Generally speaking, companies with 75 per cent market share of any business ... need to step up to the plate when it comes to testifying on policy issues that impact their industry." Napster CTO William Pence was present, stating: "It does not seem prudent for government to pick a winner in the continuing marketplace battle between Apple's Fairplay DRM and its competitors."