Apple’s download store iTunes was hit hard in the groin today, as Norway declares it illegal. Free competition is the background to this, and since Apple won’t open up iTunes to other MP3 players, Norway’s consumer officer ruled it illegal. Remove it, or go to court. Ouch.

This means that Norway is the first country in the Nordic region to actually take steps against iTunes. Sweden and Finland have declared the same stance in the matter, but has yet to act. Germany and France are also backing this, and them being a lot more lucrative markets than the small population of the Nordic region, this might actually mean that there will be some sort of impact on iTunes, other than it possibly being made unavailable in some countries.

Financial Times has more.

Now could someone please kill all DRM and give us open formats that we can play any way we please?

Tipster: Jonny Hansson