As reported earlier this week, French legislatures tried to get a bill passed forcing interoperability between all digital DRM systems such as those used in purchases from the Windows Media Player music store as well as purchases from the iTunes music store.
Instead of this proposal to eliminate the illegal cracking of DRM protection schemes, the assembly instead voted for new maximum penalties—three years of jail and a fine of €300,000 ($363,841)—to those who distribute software that enables consumers to get around copy restrictions put in place by DVD and CD manufacturers.
What this means for Apple and other online music outlets is that for now they are safe from having to make decisions on opening their schemes to others or closing down French stores.