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Download Taxes As a Weapon Against File-Sharing

Posted by timothy on from the nothing-too-original-because-hey-this-is-hollywood dept.

An anonymous reader writes "An examination of a new "digital downloads" taxation law in Washington State suggests that files downloaded via file sharing programs may be covered by the law — meaning that you may be expected to pay taxes based on 'the value of the digital product ... determined by the retail selling price of a similar digital product.' Thus, if you were to download music or movies and not pay the taxes, would you be liable for tax evasion charges? How much do you want to bet the RIAA will push exactly that claim?"

3 of 451 comments (clear)

  1. Drug tax stamps? by argent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't forget to buy your drug tax stamps while you're at the post office.

  2. Re:OpenOffice.org by S77IM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Or, will MS Office become downloadable tax-free, since it is similar to the $0.00 OpenOffice.org?

    --
    Student: Is it true that the foundation of the universe is paradox?
    Master: Well, yes and no.
  3. Re:Impossible to enforce by jyx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If computer software is not a digital good, what the hell is it? Do legislators live on a planet even remotely similar to ours?