European single market? Not on iTunes
E-commerce was supposed to break down borders, but try buying something from a website overseas and you’ll frequently find that there’s some lawyer who says you can’t.
A tune might be available on iTunes in the UK or France, but if your iTunes account is in Germany or Sweden you will often find yourself barred from buying it. Sometimes, the European Single Market is little more than an illusion – and for expats in particular, it can be frustrating.
The European Commission is now trying to bang a few heads together. Competition commissioner Nellie Kroes has brought together Apple’s Steve Jobs, the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and the CEO of eBay to try to work out what can be done.
Still, isn’t it odd that Eurocrats should be needed to persuade companies to sell their products to consumers who want to buy them? Surely good capitalists should want to find a way to make this happen?
October 27th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Freedom for E-commerce is an important issue to everyone regardless of where one is buying from or selling to. It is very much worth the time an effort. Thanks to the people who are working to make it possible to buy from wherever one chooses.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Absolutely ! The concept of free trade within the EU,or indeed of globalisation, bringing benefits to consumers is a sham. The clear truth is that the financially powerful lobby gets it’s way and the politicians dance to their tune and provide them with the laws they require. I recall, but can’t remember the name of, the russian music service, entirely within the framework of prevailing russian law at the time, offering music downloads at russian prices. It didn’t take long for the “authorities” to rule that it was legal for them to make the offer, but illegal for us to accept it. Why ? Because the music industry swings big bucks. If the EU-luvvies are trying to make these concepts work then more power to their collective elbows.
February 5th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Very informative article, which I found quite useful. Cheers ,Jay
March 1st, 2009 at 2:10 am
Well written, comprehensive…great post.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Mehr ist dazu nicht zu sagen – da hat sich einer wirklich Gedanken gemacht