UK Government to Tax Linux?

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday April 1, 2004 @07:15AM from the only-a-matter-of-time dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The UK government is looking at introducing a tax aimed at software published under GNU GPL. It claims that because programmers do it for free, it is losing out on income tax and that commercial software companies (read Microsoft) are at a disadvantage. Some pressure group has already put up a website with more details and news site Techworld have got a quote from a Treasury spokesman saying that they're only considering it."

19 of 343 comments (clear)

OMG by Anonymous Coward · 2004-04-01 07:15 · Score: 5, Funny

Worst April Fool's article ever
1. Re:OMG by Total_Wimp · 2004-04-01 07:40 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  So, are all of the articles today April Fools jokes or are some of them real?
  
  I'm just picturing an out-of-work programer named B0b getting taxed for developing open source missles and then needing to get free food to survive and keep programing. B0b's a tough, dedicated bastard.
  
  TW
Even a 100% tax is ok by AtariAmarok · 2004-04-01 07:16 · Score: 5, Funny

What is 100% of "free"?

--
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
1. Re:Even a 100% tax is ok by M.C.+Hampster · 2004-04-01 07:46 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Actually, the reason they can't use the VAT on open source work is that usually, there is no value-added.
  
  Yeah, I got karma to burn.
  
  --
  Forget the whales - save the babies.
That sucks by NanoGator · 2004-04-01 07:16 · Score: 5, Funny

At least with the Microsoft tax, I get a neat holographic coaster.

--
"Derp de derp."
Thank God! by Knight+Thrasher · 2004-04-01 07:16 · Score: 4, Funny

Real news on April 1st! Thank you! And please dear LORD no Open Source Tax!
Great by Anonymous Coward · 2004-04-01 07:16 · Score: 5, Funny

So, a tax on my free time is it?
What next? Sexual Enjoyment Tax??
1. Re:Great by bigHairyDog · 2004-04-01 07:19 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  What next? Sexual Enjoyment Tax??
  
  No, I think most /.ers would be immune from that one...
  
  Bernie :o)
  
  --
  foo mane padme hum
2. Re:Great by Phekko · 2004-04-01 07:23 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What, in Britain? Don't be daft, nobody enjoys it there ;)
  
  --
  
  Sigs for Nerds. Sigs that Matter.
3. Re:Great by stephenisu · 2004-04-01 07:24 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  actually they call it a repetitive stress injury.. or carpal tunnel.
  
  --
  Sigs? We don't need no stinking sigs!
4. Re:Great by gellenburg · 2004-04-01 07:26 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yes.
  
  It would be called the Sexual Enjoyment Tax Initiative.
  
  We will be releasing a distributed client to assist in this endeavour called "SETI@Home".
  
  Have a good day.
5. Re:Great by Mateito · 2004-04-01 07:47 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  > What next? Sexual Enjoyment Tax??
  
  You're not married, are you?
  Some of us already pay that.
  
  (You insensitive clod!)
  
  --
  Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
California already collects tax on Linux by Texas+Rose+on+Lava+L · 2004-04-01 07:20 · Score: 4, Funny

The 8% sales tax comes to $55.92 per Linux installation.

--
Rank Presidents by th
eDrugTrader disagrees by Deraj+DeZine · 2004-04-01 07:21 · Score: 5, Funny

If you like shiny plastic and psychedelic colors, I would say that your money might have been better spent on hallucinogenic drugs.

--
True story.
Re:OK, I'm bored by chef_raekwon · 2004-04-01 07:24 · Score: 4, Funny

of the April fools jokes... 5 in one day is excessive.

you think that is excessive - maybe you should try working instead of trolling on slashdot. now that, is excessive, my friend.

--
We're like rats, in some experiment! -- George Costanza
The Brits Would Tax Your TV If They Could... by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2004-04-01 07:25 · Score: 5, Funny

The Brits Would Tax Your TV If They Could...oh wait...
thingy! by stevenrieder · 2004-04-01 07:31 · Score: 4, Funny

Obligatory Monty Python sketch:

Third Official: "Well most things we do for pleasure nowadays are taxed, except one."
Politician: "What do you mean?"
Third Official: "Well, er, smoking's been taxed, drinking's been taxed but not ... thingy."
Politician: "Good Lord, you're not suggesting we should tax... thingy?"
First Official: "Poo poo's?"
Third Official: "No."
First Official: "Thank God for that. Excuse me for a moment." (leaves)
Third Official: "No, no, no - thingy."
Second Official: "Number ones?"
Third Official: "No, thingy."
Politician: "Thingy!"
Second Official: "Ah, thingy. Well it'll certainly make chartered accountancy a much more interesting job."

--
Hier staat een stukje tekst.
What? by vwjeff · 2004-04-01 07:34 · Score: 5, Funny

Another April Fools article. We all know that Linux is not real. You can't tax something that does not exist. Grow up people.
This just in... by GPLDAN · 2004-04-01 07:46 · Score: 4, Funny

The UK has decided to Tax performances of Shakespeare in the park. "Giving away performances of Hamlet lowers the box office revenues of England's finest theaters", Tony Blair was heard to say. "It's got to stop, this giving things away. It's anti-Ameri... uh, it's not becoming of the nation."

Elsewhere, the Queen Mum was heard to exclaim, "Taxation, taxation, taxation! My forefathers believed in it, and look what happened to them!"