The European Commission won another antitrust battle against a US technology company this week. Apple Computer agreed to charge UK customers the same as their European counterparts for music downloads on its iTunes website.
In the second victory for consumers in the past three months, the European Commission dropped an antitrust case against the US company as a result of the decision. In October, the commission won its nine-year antitrust case against Microsoft.
UK consumers were paying up to 7 per cent more for downloads, which cost
79p ($1.55) each, compared with
€0.99 ($1.45) on the continent. Apple will cut prices at its iTunes store within the next six months.
Neelie Kroes, Europe's competition commissioner, said the Commission was "very much in favour of solutions that allow consumers to benefit from a truly single market for music downloads".
Apple said it had sold music at a higher price in the UK because some music labels charge more for distribution rights. Steve Jobs, Apple chief executive, said: "This is an important step towards a pan-European marketplace for music."
Which?, the UK consumer watchdog, took the case to Brussels in 2004.
Source
Apple to cut prices for iTunes downloads
.. video tracks are $1.99 .
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