EU takes aim at Apple’s iTunes

Reuters

European Union consumer chief Meglena Kuneva has hit out at Apple’s bundling of its popular iPod music players and its iTunes online music store, according to German weekly magazine Focus.

…They argue that Apple uses digital rights management technology to limit consumers’ free use of songs bought on iTunes, including the ability to copy and transfer songs to other users and other MP3 devices besides the Apple iPod.

Both at the national and EU levels, however, the issue has been looked at by consumer agencies rather than the competition watchdogs whose role it is to decide whether a business activity violates rules on fair competition.

Ford sells Aston Martin in $US925m deal

March 13, 2007 – 10:24AM

Ford is selling British luxury car maker Aston Martin to a group fronted by former Benetton and BAR motor racing boss David Richards in a deal worth 479 million pounds ($US925 million).

Australia’s richest man, James Packer was among the unsuccessful bidders.

The second-biggest US carmaker said on Monday it would retain a $US77 million investment in Aston Martin, the carmaker made famous by the James Bond spy films, and that it expected the deal to close during the second quarter of this year.