Apple plans to launch a version of its iTunes Music Store in Japan by the end of the year, according to the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, which cites Apple Japan’s representative director Yoshiaki Sakito.
“Apple previously held back from starting such operations due to problems such as the strict management of copyright ownership by Japanese record companies.
But the rapid growth in the digital music market in Japan as well as a more open approach by record companies has made the move toward offering online music services possible.”
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