BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission says it has extended the deadline for Apple Inc to respond to its antitrust concerns until June 20.

A spokesman for competition commissioner Neelie Kroes confirmed the extension after a midnight deadline on Monday expired.

The commission's main concern is that iTunes' set-up in the European market prohibits users in one country from downloading music from a website intended to serve another.

In April, the EU executive confirmed it had sent a 'statement of objections' listing the charges to Apple and unnamed "major record companies".

According to the commission, songs are priced at 99 eur cents in the euro zone.

However, in the UK the songs are priced at around 18 pct more -- at 1.17 eur -- on prevailing exchange rates. In Denmark, song prices are 8 pct higher than in the euro zone.

iTunes stores are found in 15 EU member states.

"Customers are unable to shop around... and buy from the iTunes store they would like to," said the spokesman. "(They) are unable to buy the same tune for the same price."

The commission said it acted following complaints made by the UK consumer organisation over two years ago.

The commission can fine companies up to 10 pct of their annual worldwide turnover for breaching EU antitrust rules. antonia.vandevelde@thomson.com ava/slj

COPYRIGHT

Copyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.