Why no preloaded iPods?

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Ever since the first days of the iTunes Music Store I’d always wondered why Apple didn’t see iPods preloaded with music. Why not sell a Beck iPod, say, with every track ever released on it and maybe his autograph etched on the back? When Apple came out with the U2 special edition iPod that included their music catalog in the price, it didn’t come preloaded, you had to use a coupon code to download the music.

Well, today comes the answer that I can’t believe I hadn’t see before, because I’d look. iLounge reports that the settlement agreement Apple had with the Beatle’s Apple Music Co. over their trademark dispute included a clause that prohibited Apple from selling “physical media delivering prerecorded content[.]” This deal was struck before the iPod, so they never could have guessed its implications. In fact, the clause was probably just meant to cover CD sales.

Now that the two companies have resettled, you can bet you’ll see preloaded iPods. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Beatles iPod is the first.

Feb 6, 2007 | Comment | Tags: , , ,

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