Apple does not like critics on their iTunes Store policies

[pietjepuk]

Posted a reply in their itunes forum on the issue of not being able to buy/load music from an itunes store outside your country of residence, obviously by their reaction they do not like to be criticized..

Apple removed your post on Apple Discussions titled "Re: buying music from other stores besides the U.S. one" because it contained the following:

Off-topic or Non-Technical Posts
Rude or Inappropriate Language or Behavior
Non-Constructive Rants or Complaints

Original posting:
This model, where you are not free to buy music/video in any region in the world just s****. It is sign of a music industry holding on to their old way of doing business and not being able to adapt to the new business models.
I brought back a starbucks iTunes giftcard from the US and have an itunes account in the UK.
Apple/itunes do not allow me to redeem the gift card, what an utterly nonsense!!

No wonder more and more pop groups are walking away from the established media companies to 'market' and distribute their works themselves!

My two cents.

BTW: I would appreciate it if Apple would adapt a more consumer friendly attitude instead of walking along with the music industry in the rip off attitude of the music industry.

Second post:
So the alternative for people to this restrictive way of distributing music & video is for people to search the web and find a place where they can down they music of choice.
And the music industry is wondering why the level of illegal downloads is so high.....

[Code Monkey]

Not that I agree with their policy, but how is this news? It's worked this way for as long as there were iTunes stores other than the U.S. one.

If you purchased an iTunes album at a U.S. Starbucks and your account is linked to a U.K. payment method then, no, you can't redeem it because Apple isn't licensed to sell it to you. I believe someone once said something regarding this, what was it, oh yeah, caveat emptor

Whether or not we agree with it, international law is absolutely clear that licenses to sell music is strictly a per region thing. Admittedly, most countries, including the U.S., have explicit provisions in their laws that make "importing for personal use" of music perfectly legal and I feel Apple unnecessarily stands in the way of this privilege, but they are not in a position to dictate terms to the labels, and they're not going to push for something they see outside of their interests.

Apple doesn't have the labels' backs any more than they have your back, they just have their own selfish interests, and that's the only thing they're interested in serving.

[pietjepuk]

Understand the legal context, but as you say Apple does not act as an 'innovator' here.

It is for these reasons I do not buy music online. I order it via Amazon on a physical carrier, and copy the music over to my ipod.
Amazon is happy to send your orders to anywhere from any store. Each time I visit the US I order a list of CD's to be delivered at my hotel I stay in. If you are lucky they have a free shipment promotion. Given the favorable $ exchange rate for us europeans a good way to buy music!

[ScoobZ]

I'm thinking the word s***** may have had something to do with the deletion.

[spot1701]

Originally Posted by pietjepuk

It is for these reasons I do not buy music online. I order it via Amazon on a physical carrier, and copy the music over to my ipod.
Amazon is happy to send your orders to anywhere from any store. Each time I visit the US I order a list of CD's to be delivered at my hotel I stay in. If you are lucky they have a free shipment promotion. Given the favorable $ exchange rate for us europeans a good way to buy music!

Ah, so to get cheap CDs I only have to fly to the US first. Sounds like a cost-effective way of shopping to me
But, try and download music from Amazon from outside the US and see what you get. Everyone has the same problem. There are a lot of laws that have to change before you'll be able to download anything from anywhere.

[kornchild2002]

Well, Apple can follow the rules of record companies or they can not offer any content. I am guessing that following the rules benefits consumers more so than not offering any content. I guess I don't see what the big deal is. It is not like I can walk into a music shop here (in the U.S.) and find the UK's top ten album releases from UK artists (ie not international or U.S. artists). There are some record stores that can import albums from other countries but they normally charge an arm and a leg. I remember importing the Japanese version of Korn's Take A Look In The Mirror because it had a B-side on it. I payed about $50 through Amazon and the record store wanted to charge me $75.

Like I said, I don't see what the big deal is. I can see why Apple deleted your post though. If you don't like their EULA and terms of service then don't use their store, plain and simple. Now you can feel free to e-mail Apple and ask them to change their policy (just about every online download service has a policy similar to Apple's so go complain to them all) but that is about it.

[bobb-mini]

Originally Posted by ScoobZ

I'm thinking the word s***** may have had something to do with the deletion.

That's it.

That was clearly a rant. I bet u already know the reason. I bump into ppl all the time at the airport complaining loudly why their flight was cancelled. All u can ask is what alternative can be offered, ranting does not help. The ppl dealing with u (the messengers) don't need a lecture.

[imitchellg5]

The post was deleted because it is out of Apples control and rude. What can Apple do about it? Rewrite international laws? Also apple does not like vulgar language on their site at all.