Leading French lawmakers voted Thursday to water down a draft copyright law that could force Apple Computer Inc. to make its iPod music player and iTunes online store compatible with rivals’ offerings.

Currently, music bought on Apple iTunes can be played only on iPods, and an iPod can’t play songs purchased from rival stores, such as Sony Corp.’s Connect. Critics have called the restrictions anti-competitive and anti-consumer, but the lock-in is a key part of the companies’ business models.