To interoperate or not to interoperate? That is the question to which Apple said 'no' and which the US Congress is now debating. A mandate is under discussion across the pond which would oblige Apple to ensure iTunes and its other digtal music products worked with offerings from archrivals including Microsoft and Real.
There's been no love lost between any of the companies involved on the subject of interoperability. From Real sledgehammering its way onto iPods to Microsoft's none-too-subtle suggestions that consumers on the hunt for a new flash music player should avoid getting locked into one online store, DRM has been a battleground for digital music companies.
Despite some attempts and overtures made by other tech firms to get Apple to open up its file formats, those self-same rivals are the first to say they'd rather the door to the iPod was opened voluntarily than kicked down.
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