Apple’s iTunes Found Guilty of Violating Norwegian Law

The Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman on Wednesday found that Apple Computer’s iTunes music download service is in violation of a Norwegian law, and it gave the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer and electronics bigwig until June 21 to fix the problem before it will impose fines, The Register reports.

Norway’s Consumer Council in January requested that the Ombudsman review the iTunes Music Store and the associated software due to concerns that they violate consumer protection law, according to The Register.

The Ombudsman ruled that Apple is in violation of section 9a of the Norwegian Marketing Control Act, because in order to use its iTunes Music Store, customers must register and sign a contract that is regulated by U.S. laws and not Norwegian regulations, The Register reports. In addition, the Ombudsman found that Apple is responsible for any damages that may come as a result of using the iTunes software, and that it’s not reasonable to modify the terms and conditions of a user’s contract after songs or videos have been purchased, according to The Register.

The Consumer Council says Apple and iTunes aren’t the only download services in violation of the law, and that it will also crack down on those other services in the future, The Register reports.

Torgeir Waterhouse, a senior adviser with the Consumer Council, told The Register, “The Consumer Council has asked Apple to respond as to whether iTunes should work on other platforms—they have until June 21 to respond.  After that, the Ombudsman is likely to set another deadline and then start fining the company.”

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