This article is more than 1 year old

DoJ pokes Apple digital music biz practices, says report

Jobsian lot accused of corralling record labels

US Feds are reportedly investigating Apple’s online digital music business practices.

According to the New York Times, which cites several people familiar with the matter, the antitrust probe is in its early stages and has involved discussions with major music labels and internet music companies.

It’s understood that investigators from the US Department of Justice have been asking about recent allegations against Apple’s dominant market position. It’s claimed Cupertino has used this clout to convince record labels to deny Amazon exclusive access to any of their soon-to-be-released digital tracks.

Apple, Amazon and the DoJ could not immediately be reached for comment at time of writing.

According to a March report in Billboard magazine, Amazon had asked music labels for the exclusive right to punt some songs 24 hours before they went on sale elsewhere. ®

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