Canada probing Apple’s iBookstore over “cultural heritage” worries

Nate Anderson: 

On August 20, Canada’s Privy Council Office issued an order targeting Apple and the company’s new Canadian version of the iBookstore. Referred to simply as an “order authorizing a review under the Investment Canada Act of Apple Canada, Inc.’s proposed establishment of a new cultural business carried on by iBookstore in Canada,” the order means that Apple’s investment in Canada will be scrutinized by the government to make sure it aids “Canadian culture.”

Canada’s Financial Post took a dim view of the decision, saying that “the government might do well to start the review process by asking the millions of iPod, iPhone and iPad owners of Canada for their views on the matter. Though we all already know what they would say.”
I think it’s probably fair to say the Canadian culture initiative is out of date. They’re treating the iBookstore and, more than likely, the iTunes store in total as an American import store, when it’s really a global store. I’m not sure if the rules change when the idea scales like that, but the days of every Canadian store being filled mostly by Canadian products is very quickly coming to an end, and that’s due entirely to online purchasing.

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  1. gredunza posted this