"...is very clear is that Apple is determined to protect its turf and prevent anyone from using the words "pod" and "podcast" in any manner they believe might possibly infringe on its trademarks."

Darn, Jason beat me to it. But yeah, that's how the law works. Don't blame Apple for playing by the rules.

BAD Cingular, BAD phone company!

*swat*

"Your willing to lose a basic freedom, a right you are entitled if buying offline, and basically be screwed onto one system for life just because its apple"

That's total bullshit. If I want to keep my right to own and manipulate my music any way I see fit, I'll buy the CD. I _choose_ to buy from the iTMS because it's convenient to me. Am I losing a "right"? WHatever, I'll let you have that one. But I'm doing it with my eyes wide open. Nobody's forcing me into using iTMS or even buying an iPod just as nobody's forcing French consumers to do the same. It has nothing to do with being a 'fanboy'. It has everything to do with a company creating a product and service that neatly fits into my lifestyle. This is a marketplace where the consumer has overwhelmingly chosen the Apple product, DRM and all. Nobody really cares about it except a small, elite, self-righteous group of cry babies who hate that the real world operates on rules.

The French law was flawed and would have undermined the entire concept of intellectual property worldwide. It should have died died.

Take your religion elsewhere. Who needs it...?

Possible overall loss for consumer rights? If one of those rights is an environment where companies can feel free to create innovative products and be confident they'll be compensated for their effort, I'd say there no loss there. Sounds like someone in France saw the light.

I was just about to say that's the butt-fugliest wifi device I've ever seen...

"Wow, that thing must be fast! Look at all them antennas!!"