Charlie McCreevy, Europe's Internal Market Commissioner, has called on the music industry and the electronics industry to meet and hammer out once and for all the issues around private copying. As much previously reported, there has been much debate both in the UK and across the world regarding the levies which are charged, or not, on devices used by punters to make private copies of music – traditionally the second copy of CDs many people make for private use.
In many countries a levy has been traditionally charged on the sale of CDRs and blank cassettes which is passed back to the music community as compensation for private copies that music fans may or may not make. However, as sales of CDRs and cassettes fall as more and more people make second copies by ripping CDs to their PC or portable music player, proposals have been made to attach the levy to the sale of said music players – something some have dubbed the 'iPod tax'.
In the UK there has never been a levy system because private copying is, technically speaking, illegal. That said, under the current review of UK copyright law private copying may be allowed. The Gowers Report that preceded that review proposed legalising private copying without a levy, though the music industry is lobbying for a levy system to be introduced. Well, a slightly complicated private copying licensing system, which is a variation on the levy theme.
But moves to introduce an iPod tax has proved controversial wherever it has been seriously considered, and the manufacturers of the portable music players – Apple in particular – are sure to kick up a fuss. It is with that in mind that McCreevy has called for a pan-European forum where music and electronics firms can discuss the various proposals, what levies should or shouldn't be charged, and at how money generated by the levy (or licence) system can be best or better distributed.
McCreevy's call for a forum follows a consultation on the issue which finished on 18 Apr and which, according to Music Week, received submissions from 130 organisations.