Filed under: iPod Family, Video
European Commission weighs iPod Levies
Should taxes introduced on analog cassette tapes in the 1960's affect digital media players in the 2000's? That's the question before the European Commission, which is due to decide whether iPods should carry a copyright tax. A Dutch industry group postponed imposing the tax, waiting for the commission results.
While electronics manufacturers oppose the measure, European artists feel otherwise. Prominent film directors Pedro Almodovar and Bertrand Tavernier support the levy, saying it helps fund their work.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MysteryQuest said 5:48PM on 11-30-2006
The taxes here are getting dangerous. The official decision should have been made yesterday, but has been delayed. When the "home copy group" announced for the first time their plans for copyright tax, it was rated at € 1,- per GB. That would be a plus of € 80,- on your iPod in the Netherlands. The max tax is now rated at € 25,- for multi-media players. If this tax would really find his way to the products it would be the third time I would pay for my audio. I pay for my music from the iTS. We also pay taxes on CD's and DVD's here. And that "iPod-tax" would be the third time I would pay for a song. It's really ridiculous.
By time of writing the Dutch "home copy group" received a fine of € 800.000,- for abusing their monopoly position. The group is not very popular in the Netherlands, since there is no insight in their financial expenses. Their income is mainly based on the CD/DVD tax, but many people think the income is going straightly in the pockets of the group.
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Robert said 4:08PM on 12-01-2006
"Prominent film directors Pedro Almodovar and Bertrand Tavernier support the levy, saying it helps fund their work."
Do you expect them to turn down money?
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Jon said 10:36PM on 11-30-2006
This is one of the many reasons why I no longer live in Europe.
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michel said 2:51AM on 12-01-2006
"Pedro Almodovar and Bertrand Tavernie"
Well, I like Almodovar's movies, but I _don't_ want to pay him If I don't want to own his works. NO and NO.
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>This is one of the many reasons why I no longer live in
>Europe
excuse me ? you imagine it's only an European problem ? ho my, you little happy man...
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Sheridan said 6:57AM on 12-01-2006
Thats what you get with socialism! They'll tax you down to every crumb of bread if they could!
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Sherman Homan said 8:16AM on 12-01-2006
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street;
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat;
If you get too cold, I’ll tax the heat;
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
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Anders said 10:04AM on 12-01-2006
Are you for real Sheridan? Have you forgotten that everyone from the RIAA to Universal want a piece of the pie - be it iPods or the Zune. And please go read a book on Europe - we are not "socialists". The majority in the European Parliament is in fact Conservative. The countries that are social-democratic welfare states are more Liberal than anything else. We all have capitalistic market economies!
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roy said 10:18AM on 12-01-2006
lol socialism, this is probably more corporate inspired....
And although it may sound like a crazy idea, here in Holland it's normal to have your iPod full of illegal downloaded music. So I expect this to come very soon. I believe we already have a tax on empty cd/dvd-r(w) dics
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