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PARIS (AP) - French lawmakers approved an online copyright bill Tuesday that would require Apple to break open the exclusive format behind its market-leading iTunes music store and iPod players.
The draft law — which also sets new penalties for music pirates — would force Apple Computer Inc., Sony Corp. and others to share proprietary copy-protection technologies so that rivals can offer compatible services and players.
Lawmakers in the National Assembly, France's lower house, voted 296-193 to approve the bill. The legislation now has to be debated and voted by the Senate — a process expected to begin in May.
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