Nordic regulators to discuss legal sanctions against Apple

Norwegian officials have scheduled the meeting for Aug. 24-25 in Reykjavik, the report states, where they will discuss whether or not they will file a lawsuit against the iPod maker, and precisely what approach they will take in doing so.

In June, consumer agencies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden accused Apple of violating local contract and copyright laws in their countries by making its iPod the only portable music player capable of playing tracks purchased from the company's iTunes music store.

For its part, Apple has staunchly defended its iTunes business model, saying it us unwilling to open its FairPlay digital rights management scheme to competitors.

The AP quotes a member of the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman as saying the Aug. meeting would include discussion of "possible legal steps" against Apple, but a final decision on a lawsuit would not be made until Nordic regulators talked with Apple representatives in September.

In an similar crackdown, France recently passed a legislation that allows regulators to force Apple to open its iPod + iTunes franchise to rivals. The French law went into effect earlier this month.