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OFT refers iTunes complaint to EC

3 December 2004

A complaint regarding Apple’s iTunes service has been referred to the European Commission by the OFT.

Which? (formerly known as the Consumers’ Association) complained to the OFT under the Competition Act 1998 that Apple’s iTunes service discriminated on price according to the user’s country of residence and that UK users were unable to benefit from cheaper prices charged on other European iTunes sites, as access to sites serving other countries was barred to non-residents.

The OFT has decided that the European Commission is better placed to consider this matter, in particular as Apple iTunes operates in more than three EC Member States. In addition, the OFT considers that the European Commission is in a better position fully to address the issues raised by Which? in the context of wider single market issues relating to how the online exploitation of music is licensed across Europe. 

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