It seems that Norway is forcing Apple to change their MP3 download service because this service breaks the consumer protection law.

So, Apple has two weeks to fix the problem or they will face big fines and a trial if they still refuse to change the service.

According to the ruling, iTunes breaks section 9a of the Norwegian Marketing Control Act.

“In addition, iTunes uses DRM (Digital Rights Management), a type of technical standard terms and conditions, which determine how the service can be used. The Consumer Council of Norway also believes that certain aspects of the technical terms and conditions are in breach of the Marketing Control Act.

iTunes’ Fairplay DRM means that music downloaded from the iTunes Music Store can exclusively be played on an iPod.4 Both iTunes and iPod are owned by Apple. iTunes’DRM can be circumvented by copying a file on to a CD and then ripping it back on to the PC. The file will then no longer have the DRM, and it will be possible to play it freely on other types of MP3 players. It is the view of the Consumer Council that iTunes’ DRM is an unreasonable technical term of use, in so far as it prevents purchasers of music files at iTunes from using other MP3 players than iPods. The sole purpose of this type of DRM is to lock consumers into buying products from a dominant market player.

The Terms of Service prevent customers from changing or removing use other MP3 players to play the music files bought from iTunes.”

Apple also imposed restrictions to Norwegian customers like the credit card users, foreign customers unavailable to use iTunes.no and also no norwegian customer can use the service when abroad.

On Europe, Apple charges a different tax for each downloaded song. In Britain it costs $1.82 and in France it costs $1.25.

Also, the Consumer Ombudsman’s Office of Norway, want Apple to allow customers to play the songs they download to any MP3 player.

We will have to see what Apple has to say about this problem.