The Netherlands Consumers Union takes on iTunes DRM

By Erica Sadun

Today's International Herald Tribune reports that the European backlash against iTunes DRM just gained another member. The Dutch Consumentenbond (Consumer's Union) has filed complaints against Apple with both the anti-monopoly authority and the consumer's authority of the Netherlands.

TUAW reader Arjan writes, "This isn't a lawsuit, but both the NMA and the consumer's authority have the power to impose significant fines."

According to the Herald Tribune article, Consumentenbond spokesman Ewald van Kouwen said, "When you buy a music CD it doesn't play only on players made by Panasonic. People who download a song from iTunes shouldn't be bound to an iPod for the rest of their lives."

While this move does not seem tied into the earlier post today about Norway, nor to efforts in France and Germany to take on similar issues, it's clear that Europe is becoming a flash point for the questions of consumer rights, contract and copyright law.

Thanks AJvK

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