The French bill, the implementation of a European Union
directive, calls for digital songs to be playable on all
devices. As part of the law proposal, companies that use
copyright protection measures would have to supply "the
information essential to interoperability" to those interested
at no other charge than the cost of delivering the data.

"IPod sales will likely increase as users freely load
their iPods with 'interoperable' music, which cannot be
adequately protected", Apple said. "Free movies for iPods
should not be far behind in what will rapidly become a state-
sponsored culture of piracy."

Microsoft wouldn't comment on the bill.

"The recording industry fully supports interoperability because it is important to consumers to have the ability to move songs between their various listening devices," John Kennedy, Chairman of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday.

"Interoperability is crucial to attracting consumers to buy music online, but it should not be at the cost of endangering the technology used to enable legitimate offerings of music and services online," Kennedy said.

This should be ironic, but its not..