Apple Computer boss Steve Jobs is set to snub his European faithful by refusing to deliver a keynote address at next month’s Apple Expo in France, show organisers have said.
Apple Insiders say that Jobs is furious at the French Government attempts to introduce laws that would change the way Apple distributes music for the iPod in France with one insider telling SHN that Jobs consulted his own legal team prior to making the decision to not appear at the Paris Expo.In a statement provided to Macworld UK, Reed Expositions spokeswoman Clementine Tisserand confirmed the lack of keynote address at the annual Apple trade show — the largest of its kind in Europe.
“There will be no keynote at this year’s show,” she said, adding only that the decision not to offer a keynote was not made by the company she represents.
In the weeks and months leading up to previous Apple Expos, hopes and expectations of an appearance by the charismatic Jobs have often run high amongst the company’s faithful. However, the Apple co-founder, for one reason or another, has failed to deliver a keynote address in Paris since 2003
In 2004, Jobs’ scheduled keynote presentation was conducted by Apple vice president Phil Schiller after Jobs took leave from his duties at Apple in order to recuperate from pancreatic cancer surgery. Jobs was also expected to present the opening keynote at last year’s Apple Expo, but later changed his plans when several product launches failed to fall into alignment. Instead, Jobs used special media events in September and October to introduce new iPods and the company’s fall Mac computer line.
This year’s Apple expo is slated to run from September 12 – 16 at Porte De Versailles in Paris, France.
