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Level 1

5 points

Buying songs from other countries listed in the iTunes Stores

I am trying to buy songs from the Japanese iTunes stores and it appears to me, as a Canadian I cannot buy anything outside of...North America?? Possibly due to silly licensing issue or..?

Any feedback on that?
Thank you

Windows XP Pro

Posted on Dec 11, 2006 1:14 PM

Best reply

Zevoneer

Level 9

52,705 points

Posted on Dec 11, 2006 1:17 PM

Unless you can show some form of residency you cannot buy from another country's store. The question on cross store purchasing is asked frequently so I'll just quote the most complete answer (courtesy of Dave Sawyer) from the many given:

In order to buy from any given country's iTunes Music Store, you must have either:

a) a credit card with a billing address in that country, or

b) a mailing address in that country and a gift certificate or a prepaid card that was bought in that country.

If you cannot fulfill one of these two sets of conditions, you will not be able to purchase from any given country's iTMS.

.......this is due to restrictions placed on Apple by the record companies and other rights holders (who are often completely different from country to country and so all require their own individual negotiations and contracts), not by Apple's choice. And this also applies to all the legal download stores that carry major-label content, not just the iTMS.

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44 replies

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Jan 7, 2007 6:19 AM in response to jhimages

She had no idea that she had to create a new user for the U.S. and then buy a gift card for me using that user.

That wouldn't have worked, since without a US credit card, she wouldn't have been able to buy through the US iTunes Store.

How do I redeem my Canadian gift cards in the U.S.?

Sorry, but you cant.

Can I exchange them at a retail store?

Again sorry, but no, at least not through Apple Stores. If the cards were purchased from some other retailer that has both US and Canadian stores, then it would be up to that retailer.

Probably your only recourse is to send the card back to your sister-in-law and have her use it or (if possible) return it, and then send you something else. The virtual impossibility of cross-border gifting is unfortunate, but it's the way it is (for all download store, as far as I know), at least for now.

June88

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2007 1:28 PM in response to Chris CA

I understand that i can only by from canada itunes and not us so heres my question when will ituens canada come out with movies for ur ipod like the u.s store for example 10 things i hate about you ect

oh and i dont like to be mean but i the itunes canda music video library thing really ***** its missing more then half of the good music videos that have been out for years

rporter3

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2007 6:57 PM in response to Waterdragon

My question is along the same lines. Established international artists (like the Tragically Hip) have iTunes selections available on the US store as well the native (Canada) store. Is it guaranteed that when new albums are released later to the US that they will become available in the US iTunes store?

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Jan 8, 2007 8:16 AM in response to rporter3

Is it guaranteed that when new albums are released later to the US that they will become available in the US iTunes store?

No, by no means is it guaranteed that any artist's release will ever appear on the iTunes Store. It's up to the artist and their US represenatation (if any) and sometimes the artist or the US rights holder won't grant the rights. If an artist is already in the US iTunes Store, then the chances are good that new releases will also be made available, but again it's by no means guaranteed. Sometimes a guest artist blocks the availability, sometimes the artist changes record companies and the new company won't play ball, and sometimes the artist just decides not to make the release available (some artists don't want an album sold as individual tracks, for instance).

Jan 10, 2007 2:54 AM in response to varjak paw

For items that are avilable in the U.S. would they ever become available to iTunes New Zealand? or are we just out of luck?

Does apple deal with all the record companies for licensing or is that up to apple in each company?

Jan 10, 2007 10:35 AM in response to Waterdragon

I live in Canada iTMS account. No problems there. I am a Danish national and wish to purchase a song in the Danish iTMS.

1) I get a gift card next time I'm there
2) I set up an account with my address there
3) I buy the song.

Now that I have song on my laptop and I switch my account on my iTMS client software back to the Canadian store. Will the song purchased from the Danish store still work since it won't be able to reconcile the fact that I'm now a Canadian subscriber? It won't allow me to have two accounts with the same e-mail so now I have to create an account for each e-mail address. Will the iTunes software allow me to play all my purchased music from the different countries?

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PC Windows XP

Storm85

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2007 1:56 PM in response to Waterdragon

Does anyone know when Movies and TV shows will be availble on the UK itunes site. I went to the US to buy seasons 1 & 2 of Desperate Housewives and I couldn't. They have been released here!!!
Thanks

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Jan 10, 2007 2:43 PM in response to Storm85

Sorry, but as has been said here many times already, the movie studios (so far only Disney and Paramount even in the US) have not licensed Apple to sell movies outside of the US. There's nothing Apple can do unless and until they're granted the rights. When, or indeed if, this will happen, no one can say, though Apple has said that they hope to be able to offer movies internationally sometime in 2007.

As to TV shows, there have been no indications if, much less when, the show owners will ever license Apple to sell them outside the US.

Again, sorry, but we'll all just have to wait and see.

Baberdoo

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2007 10:04 PM in response to Waterdragon

I am Canadian... I am trying to buy video from the American store, only to have learned that I am NOT able to buy from it. I DID NOT KNOW THIS previously and have purchased a video iPod. Does anyone know how long it will be until Canadian subscribers will be able to have the services which SHOULD be entitled to everyone? Also, where would be a good place to download video if I CANNOT do it here?

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Jan 12, 2007 7:08 AM in response to Baberdoo

Does anyone know how long it will be until Canadian subscribers will be able to have the services which SHOULD be entitled to everyone?

As we've said several times now, it will happen if and when the content owners allow it. Until they do, there's nothing Apple can do.

Also, where would be a good place to download video if I CANNOT do it here?

There is no legal place for Canadians to download US TV shows that I know of.

Jan 13, 2007 7:57 AM in response to Waterdragon

I am an Italian Teacher and was really looking forward to downloading songs and videos from the Italian sto to use with my students. However, I apparently cannot.

My question is this... If I were to have someone from Italy [I have friends and relatives there] purchase an iTunes gift card and mail it to me in the USA, would I be able to use it even if I do not have an Italian address?

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Jan 13, 2007 8:06 AM in response to L'Italiano

L'Italiano, I'm afraid that won't work as all gift cards must be used within the country of purchase.

michtoz

Level 1

0 points

Jan 14, 2007 5:11 AM in response to Waterdragon

HI, does anyone know when movies are going to be avaliable to download on the uk website?

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Jan 14, 2007 7:10 AM in response to michtoz

Michtoz, this question has been asked & answered literally hundreds of times in these forums. We are simply fellow users like you & would not have that information. Steve Jobs did announce that when movies were first made available that Apple hoped to have movies available internationally sometime in 2007, but not exact time frame was given.

As a new poster, you may want to try the "search" function in the upper right to see if your question has been asked previously. That way you won't have to wait several hours for someone to come along with a response.

Buying songs from other countries listed in the iTunes Stores