Canadian 'MP3 Player' Tax [Updated]
The Canadian Copyright Board approved a new tax to be added to MP3 devices imported and manufactured in Canada.
The new fees are based on a sliding scale with $1.50/unit for devices up to 1 GB, $11.25 for 1-10GB, and $19 for devices more than 10GB.
The new fees are intended to offset copyright infringement losses presumably by users of such devices. However, concerns are raised in the article about the industry "double-dipping" by gaining these fees as well as earnings from legitimate download services (such as Apple's iTunes Music Store) which support the same devices.
Also in progress in Canada is Supreme Court case in which arguments are being heard over whether or not Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should start paying tariffs for (illegally) downloaded music.
The new ruling legalizes P2P music downloading in Canada.
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107 months ago
Category: News and Press Releases
Link: Tax on MP3 players
Posted on MacBytes.com
Approved by Mudbug
Link: Tax on MP3 players
Posted on MacBytes.com
Approved by Mudbug
107 months ago
0_0 psh figures... this odly reminds of the tea act that happened a long time ago...
107 months ago
what do canadians think of this?
Our government looked at putting this tax on cdrs and there were a lot of legitimate cd burners (backup etc) kicking up a fuss.
I think it's little lame, but then the tax is relatively small, so I'm not sure.
Our government looked at putting this tax on cdrs and there were a lot of legitimate cd burners (backup etc) kicking up a fuss.
I think it's little lame, but then the tax is relatively small, so I'm not sure.
107 months ago
Great. Guilty without a trial. And here I thought business having a strangle-hold on the legislature was a uniquely American idea...
So is there a clause that allows buyers to pirate music without penalty? Fair is fair, right? If you're paying for pirated music by buying an mp3 player, you should be able to get what you're paying for!
Orlowski at The Register is going to have a field day with this...
So is there a clause that allows buyers to pirate music without penalty? Fair is fair, right? If you're paying for pirated music by buying an mp3 player, you should be able to get what you're paying for!
Orlowski at The Register is going to have a field day with this...
107 months ago
I would pay $19 if it meant I could pirate all the music I wanted, legally...
After all the over priced CDs I have bought in years past, $19 sounds like a fair deal for a couple years worth of downloading.
Although it is kind of a strange solution, it seems far more civil than the nightmare we have in the States right now, with the RIAA going around suing people that don't even have computers !
My 2 cents...
-NSB
After all the over priced CDs I have bought in years past, $19 sounds like a fair deal for a couple years worth of downloading.
Although it is kind of a strange solution, it seems far more civil than the nightmare we have in the States right now, with the RIAA going around suing people that don't even have computers !
My 2 cents...
-NSB
107 months ago
Of all the down right insight full things a tax on players sod this for a game of what evers.. I aint canadian and i find this an insult
107 months ago
I dont really mind it, sure I dont want to pay $454CDN +14% sales tax (depends on province to province), but thats how it is :(
I guess apple already changed their prices to apply with the tax legislation
I remember hearing over a year ago that there's already levies on MP3 players, I guess not. I dont mind levies on CD-Rs, at first I really noticed it, but now the most popular cd-rs are the really cheap brands or ones that are on sale
I guess apple already changed their prices to apply with the tax legislation
I remember hearing over a year ago that there's already levies on MP3 players, I guess not. I dont mind levies on CD-Rs, at first I really noticed it, but now the most popular cd-rs are the really cheap brands or ones that are on sale
107 months ago
Here in Spain, the goverment allows a private organisation (similar to the RIAA) collect a tax on all the cd-r or dvd-r discs sold (in all their formats) and they want to put a tax on hard drives and internet conections...
It's supposed to cover the loss of money that results from people making a backup copy (as is our right) but they use it as a way to get more money with the excuse of piracy. It's sick...
And they also are starting to sue people that use kazaa to download music...
so...
It's supposed to cover the loss of money that results from people making a backup copy (as is our right) but they use it as a way to get more money with the excuse of piracy. It's sick...
And they also are starting to sue people that use kazaa to download music...
so...
107 months ago
You know what...we are one of the highest taxed countries in the world...we already pay up to 50% income tax and we have 14.5% sales tax (in BC) and we pay $9.00 for cigarettes (not a smoker), 90 cents for a litre of gas ($3.60 a gallon).... we pay $17 for a 12pack of beer...and now an extra $20 on a $700 40GB ipod...
I hate paying it....
But you know what... when I broke my leg in September and went to emergency at the hospital...I didn't pay a dime. We have almost free health care. We have clean air...our country is beautiful (coast to coast)....we have low crime...very few guns...
It is hard to suck up all these taxes...but at the end of the day...the quality of life up here is priceless.
I guess that it isn't fair that they will be charging the surcharge to even those who abide by the law, but then again....not everything is fair....I think that until peoples habits change, the truth is that most peoples music libraries are pirated. I own a nightclub and 90% of the music on my computer is legitimate, but I still download the odd song....I am a pretty honest person, and I still download songs...I believe that I am in the minority when it comes to legal music libraries. Most peoples libraries are 10% legitimate and 90% downloaded.
Whatever... I hate taxes and surcharges or whatever they are calling it just as much as the next guy, but sometimes it makes sense....
I will however have a problem 10 years from now...when most people are paying for legitimate copies of music and movies and all consumers are still being charged the surcharge because of a small percentage of pirates.
Thanks for listening....am I way off base? Tell me is I am...
Thanks,
Florio
I hate paying it....
But you know what... when I broke my leg in September and went to emergency at the hospital...I didn't pay a dime. We have almost free health care. We have clean air...our country is beautiful (coast to coast)....we have low crime...very few guns...
It is hard to suck up all these taxes...but at the end of the day...the quality of life up here is priceless.
I guess that it isn't fair that they will be charging the surcharge to even those who abide by the law, but then again....not everything is fair....I think that until peoples habits change, the truth is that most peoples music libraries are pirated. I own a nightclub and 90% of the music on my computer is legitimate, but I still download the odd song....I am a pretty honest person, and I still download songs...I believe that I am in the minority when it comes to legal music libraries. Most peoples libraries are 10% legitimate and 90% downloaded.
Whatever... I hate taxes and surcharges or whatever they are calling it just as much as the next guy, but sometimes it makes sense....
I will however have a problem 10 years from now...when most people are paying for legitimate copies of music and movies and all consumers are still being charged the surcharge because of a small percentage of pirates.
Thanks for listening....am I way off base? Tell me is I am...
Thanks,
Florio
107 months ago
Is not a computer also a mp3 player?
What would be the tax on a 120gig harddrive in a computer? I have a feeling this is Pandora's Box, once this is passed into law, you will have computers taxed also.
For us Americans, you all know as well as I that the Goverment here is watching with glee to see this pass in Canada ...
What would be the tax on a 120gig harddrive in a computer? I have a feeling this is Pandora's Box, once this is passed into law, you will have computers taxed also.
For us Americans, you all know as well as I that the Goverment here is watching with glee to see this pass in Canada ...
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