Apple Inc (AAPL)

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09:55 AAPL Apple Computer: France approves iTunes law - WSJ (57.22 -1.75)

WSJ reports French lawmakers gave final approval Friday to legislation that could force the co to make its iPod and iTunes Music Store compatible with rivals' music players and online services. Both the Senate and the National Assembly, France's lower house, voted in favor of the copyright bill, which some analysts said could cause the co and others to pull their music players and online download stores from France. The vote was the final legislative step before the bill becomes law -- barring the success of a last-ditch constitutional challenge filed last week by the opposition Socialists. The final compromise asserts that companies should share the required technical data with any rival that wants to offer compatible music players and online stores, but it toned down many of the tougher measures backed by lower-house lawmakers early on. It also maintained a loophole introduced by senators, which could allow the co and others to dodge the data-sharing demands by striking new deals with record labels and artists.