Melanie Tucker must die!

[Natobasso]

She can put freakin mp3 files on her ipod, no problem. MP3 has been available to everyone for a long time now. Jeez.

This lawsuit smacks of 'hot coffee at McD's' lameness to me.

[Lt Major Burns]

yes, but also, in the worst days of MS Antitrust, you could always use Netscape (or any other browser) - but you were overly encouraged to use IE.

it was that attempt to monopolise that caused America vs MS. and it's not a million miles away from the MP3 player market.

[Mikuro]

I guess it all depends on what category you consider the iPod to fall into. Let's put it this way: if Apple loses this, will Nintendo be forced to release their games for PS3? Will Sony be forced to open up the UMD format so other companies can play their "PSP" movies? Will Apple and Microsoft be forced to make ALL their apps cross-platform?

Obviously not. But how are any of these things different from the iPod/iTunes setup?

On the other hand, Microsoft was convicted of (among other things) keeping Windows too closed up, making it impossible for third parties to deploy software as easily as Microsoft. How is FairPlay any different from that?

Sometimes, there's a fine line between competition and anti-competition.

[Tommo]

That would be fairly different to iPod/Itunes as the products in question are developed for a specific platform, be it Windows, OSX or PSP. They are not modified to prevent them running on other equipment.

It is more like the poor attempt to copy protect CDs a couple of years back so they could not be played and therefore ripped on PCs or Macs and we all know how popular that move was.

[Sunnz]

Originally Posted by Mikuro

if Apple loses this, will Nintendo be forced to release their games for PS3? Will Sony be forced to open up the UMD format so other companies can play their "PSP" movies? Will Apple and Microsoft be forced to make ALL their apps cross-platform?

Just to push things a little bit further: should Honda make engines that are compatible with Ford, Holden, Toyota, etc? Should Chinese take-away start making "Indian-compatible" food?

[Rhisiart]

Originally Posted by Sunnz

Should Chinese take-away start making "Indian-compatible" food?

Our local Chinese restaurant does. But I know that's not your point.

We should have a poll.