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Canada to Tax MP3 Players $21/GB of Storage

Posted by timothy on from the irresistable-force dept.

einer writes : "A brief article on some new legislation scheduled to take effect at the beginning of next year. This tax would raise the price of an archos jukebox from roughly $350.00 to $640.00 (American). "Comments and objections are due by May 8, 2002." Looks like I'm headed to pricegrabber." Update: 03/13 19:36 GMT by M : We did a big story on this a few days ago (although people keep submitting it).

6 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. This could backfire by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only media taxed is media "that is intended for use primarily to record and play music". So if Apple wants to avoid the tax on the iPod, for instance, all they have to do is remove all the anti-circumvention software which disallows use of the iPod for non-music storage.

    1. Re:This could backfire by sillyopolis · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually all they have to do is remarket the iPod as a generic storage device or a platform, and make software optional (but readily available). This does raise some interesting questions as to what constitutes storage media and/or an MP3 player.

  2. This is crazy! by Deagol · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Somebody in Canada's government is sucking some serious corporate dick. Not that the U.S. is any better. My own beloved Mr. Hatch of Utah is guilty of the same thing, "Napster Hearings" or not. But then again, don't all senators?

    Someone needs to organize a well-publicized "pirate" day. Buy an MP3 player or some blank CD-Rs, or anything that gets "taxed" in this way. Contact the news media, and say since you've already paid the price for piracy, you're gonna go out in front of some huge media chain and give out copies of a ripped-n-burned popular CD (choose a band you don't like :P) in front of the cameras.

    Being hauled off by the police will make great media coverage. Get some womderful group to take the case (EFF?) and fight this up 'till the bitter end and have these laws squashed.

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    Method of processing duck feet
  3. Pure genius by codexus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With a little help from Moore's Law the canadian copyright office is going to be the richest organization on earth in a few years :)

    --
    True warriors use the Klingon Google
  4. A shift to self-upgrading devices? by Deagol · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Since the tax is on "non-removeable" storage, I see a shift in player construction. All devices will be sold (fairly cheaply) sans the storage. When you purchase the device, you can buy an optional card/stick/hd/whatever.

    Of course, then all medial will get taxed, then all hell will break loose as the hard drive and memory makers challenege the law into oblivion.

    --
    Method of processing duck feet
  5. Re:Depends on how you look at it... by anthony_dipierro · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But, on the other hand, you are paying for a right to store whatever you want on there (mainly copyrighted music).

    This would be fine (and I'd support the tax) if there was an AHRA-ish clause exempting users of this media from copyright infringement suits. But I looked at the proposal, and I couldn't find such a clause.

    Legalized napster for 13 USD/gig (storage, not download space)? I'd take it in a second.