Can I buy tracks from other countries' iTMS even though I'm in the USA?

August 21, 2005 5:15 PM

Can I access other countries' iTunes Music Store from the United States and make purchases? I like to buy import-only stuff, and it would be nice to be able to download rather than have to pay expensive shipping charges.
posted by thewiseacre to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

No unfortunately not. The only work-around is to get a credit card issued in the foreign country (e.g., a card issued in Japan to buy from the Japanese store).
posted by nathan_teske at 5:40 PM on August 21, 2005

It is important to note that, by not living in the geographical area in which iTunes are approved for sale, you are effectively violating the Terms of Service and your license to purchased music is thereby revoked. I have read stories of people moving from the US to Canada, and suddenly and automatically having their music rendered inaccessible the next time they logged on. ("You agree not to use or attempt to use the Service from outside of the available territory, and that Apple may use technologies to verify your compliance.")
posted by Danelope at 6:20 PM on August 21, 2005

So...hypothetically...HYPOTHETICALLY, if there was an Eddie Izzard album I wanted, but you could only buy it in the British iTunes store, I would have to get a MetaFilter member in England to download it and burn it on to a disc for me and then mail it to me? And then I would hypothetically send them something in return? Hypothetically?
posted by ColdChef at 7:07 PM on August 21, 2005

Hypothetically you could buy your tracks from somewhere other than iTunes - Audiolunchbox seems to have quite the Eddit Izzard collection.
posted by Jimbob at 7:30 PM on August 21, 2005

I can access the USA iTMS from Canada no prob. Never bought anything but I can certainly browse it.
posted by dobbs at 7:31 PM on August 21, 2005

Thanks, Jimbob, but they don't have "Sexie", the one I want. iTunes is cruel, because you can browse other stores and even listen to brief snippets, but you just can't buy.
posted by ColdChef at 7:36 PM on August 21, 2005

Dobbs, you can browse all the stores. As soon as you try to buy anything the sucking begins.
posted by chunking express at 7:57 PM on August 21, 2005

Although I haven't personally tried this, I have heard that if you could get someone from the said country to buy you gift certificates, you could use that to purchase music in foreign iTunes stores.
posted by gyc at 8:56 PM on August 21, 2005

Hypothetically your friend in the foreign country could just use Hymn and strip the DRM and send it to you over the Internets.
posted by nathan_teske at 9:22 PM on August 21, 2005

Since owning the music legally is more or less the point of iTunes, and you can't legally own music from a foreign iTunes Store, and Apple may in fact revoke play rights the second you try using said music, and stripping the DRM undoubtedly results in the revocation of your license, you'd actually be better off saving yourself the time, effort and money by downloading pirated music. Hypothetically.
posted by Danelope at 5:41 AM on August 22, 2005

The only thing that matters (in terms of ability to purchase, not the TOS) is the billing address of the credit card you are using. They do not track IPs or anything to figure out where you are.

So....get a credit card with a bill that comes to a friend's house in the country of choice, if you can find a friend there.
posted by cushie at 7:46 AM on August 22, 2005