This is a Frits Bolkestein quote in relation to Commission proposals on the spare car parts market, see full quote below. Useful analogy for DRM.
Teresa -------------------
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2dd488f4-06b3-11d9-b95e-00000e2511c8.html Car industry attacked over spares market By Tobias Buck in Brussels and James Mackintosh in London Published: September 15 2004 03:00 | Last updated: September 15 2004 03:00
Frits Bolkestein, the European Union internal market commissioner, launched a stinging attack on Europe's car industry yesterday for opposing his plans to liberalise the 10bn (£6.8bn) vehicle spare parts market.
The proposals finally won backing from the European Commission yesterday after months of conflict and lobbying by car companies.
Their campaign was yesterday described by Mr Bolkestein as "a classic example of the narrow vested interests of the few, namely a handful of large car manufacturers with huge resources, trying to undermine the broader interests of the many, namely car owners throughout Europe".
Mr Bolkestein also warned members of the European parliament, who now have to approve the plans along with EU member states, to stand firm against pressure from carmakers: "They are about to turn the full focus of their attention on you. I appeal to you to stand firm."
The industry signalled it was preparing to do exactly that, saying it hoped the parliament and ministers from member states would look at its arguments in "a more balanced and rigorous way".
Under the proposals, carmakers will lose the exclusive right to sell visible replacement parts for the cars they manufacture, including bumpers, doors and lights.
Some member states already allow competition in this market, and the Commission argued that car parts are 6-10 per cent more expensive in countries not open to competition.
The industry denied this, and said the result of competition would be job losses to Taiwan and potentially dangerous components going on sale.
Among commissioners opposing the plans was Germany's Günter Verheugen, who currently serves as enlargement commissioner but will take over the industry portfolio in November.