iTunes Music Store outside US

[George Slusher]

>Sorry, but just have to comment on this sig. I do have a Mac, iTunes and an
>iPod but my ecosystem is missing a piece....I want my Music store too! I
>hope Apple will recognise the other 15/16ths of the worlds population. We
>still do not have full iPhoto features or Sherlock functions...and now this.
>I am waiting for Macs to start coming painted with the US flag on them and a
>disclaimer sticker stating this product works great in the US. In other
>countries YMMV. Granted it works fine without these additions however, I
>like most other humans would like my cake and be able to eat it too...
>
><flame off>

The problem isn't the technology but legal issues--copyrights, import 
laws, etc. A piece of music may be copyright by different entities in 
different countries. There are online sites that sell Asian-made DVDs 
which are illegal to be sold in the US. These may even have been released 
by the original copyright holders (e.g., a US studio like Paramount), but 
labeled for sale only outside the US. The same applies to some music. 
Small, "fly-by-night" web sites and eBay sellers can get away with such 
dealings, but Apple couldn't. 

About two years ago, I found a source for videos of a British TV show 
that I liked. I contacted the publisher through their website, but they 
said that they couldn't ship the videos to the US, even in NTSC (vs PAL) 
format, because someone else owned the US rights to the show. 

George Slusher/Eugene, OR
gslusher at rio.com