Feds Looking Into Apple's iTunes Practices, Reports Say

From PC World: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened an antitrust investigation into Apple's digital music business, according to several reports Tuesday that cited unnamed sources.

The probe is in the early stages, the New York Times said in a story published on its Web site, but DOJ investigators have already spoken with major recording labels and online music firms about Apple's business practices.

Other reports by the Wall Street Journal ( subscription required ) and CNET said that unidentified industry sources had corroborated the New York Times ' story.

According to all three reports, the DOJ's questions may not lead to a formal inquiry, but are meant to determine whether further investigation into complaints is warranted.

Those complaints stem from pressure Apple allegedly put on music labels to pull their support of an Amazon.com music promotion that gave the online retailer -- which also sells digital music - exclusive access to new tracks. Dubbed "MP3 Daily Deal," the promotion surfaced in March as a bone of contention between Apple and the large recording labels, according to a story that month in Billboard , the music industry's trade magazine.

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