Apple is working to secure iCloud music rights for international customers, according to CNET. The iTunes legal team is trying to get international cloud-music rights for October 4th’s iPhone event, due to the fact that Apple is expected to launch iCloud to the public at that time.
Procuring these rights would assumedly give international iCloud customers the ability to re-download music and stream tracks through iTunes Match.
CNET reports:
“Sources familiar with the discussions between Apple, record companies, and music publishers, say Apple is seeking international music licenses for its iCloud service. The licenses would be similar to those the company has already obtained for U.S. operations, the sources said. If iTunes managers wrap up negotiations in time, they could announce the offering at a Tuesday press event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., where the company is expected to roll out the iPhone 5, the next generation of the iconic smartphone.”
According to CNET’s sources, countries like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom will all be included in the deal. While an agreement is almost wrapped up, “nothing is signed” yet.
Canada was not mentioned in the report as a country that Apple is working on procuring rights for. A previous email from Apple VP of Internet Services Eddy Cue said that Apple was “working on adding Canada” and that the company hoped “to do so after the US launch.”
iCloud and iTunes Match will give customers the ability to download songs multiple times from any authorized device and stream an digital library on the go. While iCloud will be free with limited storage, iTunes Match will cost $24.99/year and offer a customer’s music library for cloud streaming.
It was previously assumed that the UK wouldn’t get iTunes Match support until at least 2012. It’s good to hear that Apple is working to secure international rights sooner, and we hope that a deal can be closed before Tuesday’s event.
