iTunes in Canada... missing content? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

godzilla23 · 09-03-2006, 12:54 PM

I did a search but couldn't find this question addressed in any prior iTunes threads.

Why is it that a Canadian iTunes user does not have access to downloading a lot of the content that American users have access to - such as TV shows, and some music. Is there a way to get around this? I tried switching my music store to the USA version but when I tried to download it wouldn't go.

Charlatan · 09-03-2006, 02:17 PM

It has to do with rights.

iTunes must license the right to sell music from the rights holders of said music. This is typically the labels. Those rights are frequently owned by different organizations country to country.

Canada being a different country than the US, creates a situation where the rights may be held by a company or individual that doesn't want to grant the rights or has made the granting of rights cost prohibitive. For example, Canada with a 10th of the population of the US cannot generate even close to the revenue that comes out of the US... a rights holder may have set the minimum guarantee for the rights (the amount the Licensee - in this case iTunes - must pay the rights holder to access the rights) high enough that it doesn't make it profitable for iTunes to release the title.

Of course, it could be that another company (puretracks for example) already has the exclusive rights to the music and iTunes can't aquire the rights from the rights holder.

JJRousseau · 09-08-2006, 12:33 PM

I've heard the same thing as Charlatan. To buy from the US Store you must have a US billing address. Apparently, Apple will announce a bunch of things next Tuesday including the ability to buy (download) new release movies from iTunes for $12CDN

09-03-2006, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
godzilla23 Tilted Location: Ontario, Canada	iTunes in Canada... missing content? I did a search but couldn't find this question addressed in any prior iTunes threads. Why is it that a Canadian iTunes user does not have access to downloading a lot of the content that American users have access to - such as TV shows, and some music. Is there a way to get around this? I tried switching my music store to the USA version but when I tried to download it wouldn't go.

09-03-2006, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	It has to do with rights. iTunes must license the right to sell music from the rights holders of said music. This is typically the labels. Those rights are frequently owned by different organizations country to country. Canada being a different country than the US, creates a situation where the rights may be held by a company or individual that doesn't want to grant the rights or has made the granting of rights cost prohibitive. For example, Canada with a 10th of the population of the US cannot generate even close to the revenue that comes out of the US... a rights holder may have set the minimum guarantee for the rights (the amount the Licensee - in this case iTunes - must pay the rights holder to access the rights) high enough that it doesn't make it profitable for iTunes to release the title. Of course, it could be that another company (puretracks for example) already has the exclusive rights to the music and iTunes can't aquire the rights from the rights holder. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-08-2006, 12:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
JJRousseau Psycho Location: Vancouver, Canada	I've heard the same thing as Charlatan. To buy from the US Store you must have a US billing address. Apparently, Apple will announce a bunch of things next Tuesday including the ability to buy (download) new release movies from iTunes for $12CDN __________________ Take from the philosopher the pleasure of being heard and his desire for knowledge ceases.