Attempts to introduce an iPod tax in Japan is, seemingly, going through a tough approval process which will certainly delay its introduction, and possibly jeopardize the whole venture. As previously reported, the so called iPod tax would be a surcharge added to every digital music player sold that is passed on to the copyright holders. The concept runs that people make additional copies of music when they transfer it to a portable music device, and they should pay a licence fee to the content owners for the privilege of doing so. Basically it is a modern version of the levy charged in some countries, including Japan, on the sales of blank cassettes and CDRs. The proposals are currently at committee stage, but word is political types want a considerable revamp to the proposals put forward by the various royalty bodies, and it is unlikely anything will be agreed until 2007.
Nov 8, 2005
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1 min read
Japanese iPod tax may be on hold
Proposals for a Japanese iPod tax, a surcharge on digital music players passed to copyright holders, are at committee stage and unlikely to be agreed until 2007.