Germany Mulls A Copyright Levy + VAT For PCs

Willard B. Trophy writes "How does a US$13 plus an extra 16% tax on computers sound? That's what intense lobbying by publishing industry groups has forced the German government to consider. UPI has the story."

Comments

Re:yes, this is practical

[doktor-hladnjak]

Perhaps I'm confused, but speaking as someone living in Germany, it seems to me that we already pay the 16% VAT (MwSt) on computers.

Maybe they're talking about taxing the levy of $13? As bizarre as this sounds, this seriously wouldn't surprise me.

That is no 'extra' 16% tax for copyright

[Lars T.]

That is the 'normal' 16% Mehrwertsteuer (VAT) we Germans have to pay on everything (less for some stuff like food). It has nothing to do with the 12 Euro "copyright levy"

BTW, the VG Wort (and the VG Bild-Kunst (image-art)) claim that this strengthens the right to make a private copy. The hardware-makers protesting this (like HP) would rather use DRM and TCPA. (Article in German