42244 0 3 econsultancy_xml <p>The probe was the result of complaints from the consumer group Which? about Apple's pricing policies. The issue was <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4065539.stm">referred to the EU three years ago.</a></p> <p>Apple had defended itself by blaming record labels' charging policies, as well as the UK's tax system.</p> <p>But it was threatened with a fine of 10% of its global turnover for breaking EC Treaty rules on restrictive practices. </p> <p>Responding to the decision, Steve Jobs laid down a challenge to UK record labels: </p> <blockquote> <p> <em>"Apple will reconsider its continuing relationship in the UK with any record label that does not lower its wholesale prices in the UK to the pan-European level within six months."</em> </p> </blockquote> <p>While this is a welcome move, there still remains a difference between prices in the US and UK. In the States, downloads cost just 99 cents (50p). </p> <p> <strong>Related stories:<br /></strong> <a href="/blog/1696-hey-nbc-apple-already-does-variable-pricing">Hey, NBC! Apple already does variable pricing…</a> <br /> <a href="/blog/1683-apple-launches-tv-downloading-service-in-uk">Apple launches TV downloading service in UK </a> </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>The probe was the result of complaints from the consumer group Which? about Apple's pricing policies. The issue was <Link URL="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4065539.stm" Window="Self">referred to the EU three years ago.</Link></Paragraph> <Paragraph>Apple had defended itself by blaming record labels' charging policies, as well as the UK's tax system.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>But it was threatened with a fine of 10% of its global turnover for breaking EC Treaty rules on restrictive practices. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Responding to the decision, Steve Jobs laid down a challenge to UK record labels: </Paragraph> <Block> <Paragraph> <Quote>"Apple will reconsider its continuing relationship in the UK with any record label that does not lower its wholesale prices in the UK to the pan-European level within six months."</Quote> </Paragraph> </Block> <Paragraph>While this is a welcome move, there still remains a difference between prices in the US and UK. In the States, downloads cost just 99 cents (50p). </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related stories:<LineBreak /></Emphasis> <Link URL="/blog/1696-hey-nbc-apple-already-does-variable-pricing" Window="Self">Hey, NBC! Apple already does variable pricing…</Link> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/1683-apple-launches-tv-downloading-service-in-uk" Window="Self">Apple launches TV downloading service in UK </Link> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2008-01-09T11:25:00+00:00 0 1 econsultancy_xml <p> <strong>Apple has said it will reduce the cost of iTunes song downloads in the UK following an EU antitrust investigation.</strong> </p> <p>The long overdue move will see track prices fall from 79p to 67p within the next six months. UK consumers had previously been paying around 10% more than the rest of the EU. </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Apple has said it will reduce the cost of iTunes song downloads in the UK following an EU antitrust investigation.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>The long overdue move will see track prices fall from 79p to 67p within the next six months. UK consumers had previously been paying around 10% more than the rest of the EU. </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 2055 364817 Apple finally cuts iTunes prices in the UK false 2008-01-09T12:37:00+00:00 apple-finally-cuts-itunes-prices-in-the-uk 2009-04-28T23:03:17+01:00 2009-04-28T23:03:17+01:00 222