Norway has set a deadline of June 21 for Apple to change its terms and conditions for songs and videos downloaded from the iTunes Music Store. The Consumer Council of Norway filed a complaint against Apple earlier this month claiming that the iTunes Music Store violates Norway laws.

Norway ruled that Apple is trying to impose English law as part of the iTunes Music Store (iTMS) download contract, that the FairPlay digital rights management built in to iTMS downloads prohibits their use on players other than the iPod, and that Apple can change the terms and conditions of downloaded files at any time - All violations according to Section 9a of the Norwegian Marketing Control Act.

If Apple fails to open the iTMS to other portable music players and change the terms of the user license agreement by June 21, the company faces potential fines and court action, according to InformationWeek.

Torgeir Waterhouse, a senior advisor to the Consumer Council of Norway, commented "A trade agreement with a consumer must be balanced, also in the digital sphere. The Consumer Council has seen a trend where terms of agreement, technical blocks and their legal protection have led to a reduction in the rights of consumers and their opportunities to use cultural material."

Apple may be in the spotlight right now, but Norway isn't singling it out. Mr. Waterhouse noted that several other companies using similar terms and conditions are likely to be targeted, too.