Apple may simply leave the French market if a bill to open iTunes - that is, make music downloads playable on all portable digital players - is signed into law, writes InformationWeek/TechWeb. And that would likely suit the French just fine, since they tend not to like foreign competitors' dominating their markets anyway. Meanwhile, Apple said the French copyright bill would promote piracy, reports Bloomberg.

"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."

According to the bill, companies that use copyright protection measures would have to supply "the information essential to interoperability" to those interested. The measure passed 286-193 in the 577-member lower house in Paris this week, but it has to be confirmed by the Senate.