AfterDawn: News

Manufacturers angry over proposed surcharges on MP3 players

Some of the world's biggest manufacturers of MP3 players including Apple, Sony and Phillips are very angry over a proposed surcharge on mp3 players sold in the Netherlands which would compensate copyright holders for lost revenue due to copying for personal consumption. This is similar the charge on CD and DVD media in some countries. The Stichting Thuiskopie foundation collects surcharges on CDs and DVDs which it then distributes to copyright holders.

The foundation is now looking for a similar charge to cover m3 players also. However, the main difference is that some MP3 players store the mp3's on a hard disk drive and can hold big amounts of data. The proposed surcharge will be based on the amount of storage at €3.28 per gigabyte that a player offers. According to ICT Office, a Dutch trade association, this surcharge, expected to be introduced within two months, could increase the price in the Netherlands of an Apple iPod with 40 gigabytes of storage, for example, by more than €130.



Similar demands are being made in other countries also. There is also some opposition to fair use, with some proposals for new copyright laws that would make it illegal to rip a CDs audio to MP3, but it would remain legal to copy the CD itself for personal use. While consumers might see these charges as a nuisance, one French man benefited from a charge on blank DVD media. See that story here.

Source:
DMeurope.com

Written by: James Delahunty @ 22 Apr 2005 18:27

• Previous article

• Videotron willing to give subscriber details to CRIA

• Next article

• More companies join Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD peace conference

• 4 comments

• WarForOil

  MMMMMMMMMMM Sounds a bit much cant remember any tax on any vcr machines just because you could tape a movie from the t.v.If you ask me this sort of hounding for cash is way over the top.What next a tax when you buy a ford because you didnt buy from general motors.C.mon get real i have had it with the multi nationals dictating what taxes we should pay, we pay way over the top for most things this money cant be funding other multies because we dont buy there particular product....Sell us something at a reasonable cost or sink simple as that.

  26.4.2005 10:41 #1

• Zippy84

  im at a loss for words here.....some of the crap that people come up with can't be described in words.....DAMNIT!!! im seriously blown away by this....im laughing but at the same time im like WTF??? i hope they FIGHT THE MAN!!!

  26.4.2005 19:19 #2

• SiD_UK

  Do they put a charge on VHS recorders and TIVO players as well? If not then they don't have a damn right to do anything like this.
  
  Seriously, that really is ... well ... stealing.

  27.4.2005 01:00 #3

• sueboo

  This is surely a proposal to benefit certain powerful companies. How does the small songwriter and/or producer and/or performer access their part of the megabucks?

  27.4.2005 12:45 #4