Apple has responded to the French National Assembly’s decision to pass an online copyright bill that would require Apple to open the proprietary format behind its iTunes music store and iPod players, reports Reuters (see related story). “The French implementation of the EU Copyright Directive will result in state-sponsored piracy,” said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris in the story. “If this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customers.” She goes on to say: “iPod sales will likely increase as users freely upload their iPods with ‘interoperable’ music which cannot be adequately protected,” Kerris said. “Free movies for iPods should not be far behind.” Link credit to Macworld UK