Well, this is interesting - Norway is calling Apple's FairPlay DRM (operates only with iTunes and iPods) illegal in Norway - and France and Germany look like they'll join the party:

Apple's digital rights management lock on its iPod device and iTunes software is illegal, the Consumer Ombudsman in Norway has ruled. The blow follows the news that consumer groups in Germany and France are joining Norway's action against Apple.

So... Apple could license FairPlay, or they could just abandon DRM. Apple likes the lockin provided by FairPlay, but they've never been a big fan of licensing their software, either. Makes me wonder - will they decide that the iPod (and iTunes) are a big enough brand now that they can just kiss off DRM, and tell the studios that they had no choice? This will be an interesting one to watch.

Technorati Tags: copyright, law, iPod