News Archive for 06/07/28

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Parts of French DRM law overturned

07/28, 5:15pm

French DRM bill redux

The French Constitutional Council has declared portions of the recently approved DRM law unconstitutional, diluting some of the controversial aspects of the bill. "Apple's lawyers might want to drink a glass of French Champagne today, but not a whole bottle," Dominique Ménard said, a partner at the Lovells law firm who specializes in intellectual property. "The Constitutional Council has highlighted fundamental protections for intellectual property in such a way as to put iTunes a little further from risk of the French law." The 12-page document references the 1789 Declaration on Human Rights, concluding that the new law violates the constitutional protections of property, according to the New York Times.

Apple clarifies: iPod lasts "for years"

07/28, 3:05pm

Apple clarifies iPod life

Apple today said that company spokeswoman Natalie Kerris was misquoted in a report on iPod lifespan published by the Chicago Tribune earlier this week. The report quoted Kerris as saying that Apple's iPod is designed to last "four years," but Kerris said she told the reporter that the iPod was designed to last "for years." The original report asked whether portable media players are built well enough to withstand everyday wear and tear, citing Apple's acknowledgement of various issues in the recent past. While some problems with iPods remain, the report notes that it is virtually impossible to determine how widespread they actually are due to Apple's retention of statistical information on the issues.