Monday, September 19, 2005
Jens of Sweden Won't Pay the Blank Media Tax
Posted by James Fee in "CONTENT" @ 10:00 PM
"Like many other European countries, Sweden has a 'cassette compensation', which was designed to compensate copyright owners and applies to blank recording media. In 2004 85 million kroner in compensation was collected by Copyswede, an umbrella collecting society for coordinated negotiations and agreements in certain copyright areas. The law now also affects MP3 players. According to Nylander several foreign companies, including Apple, do not have to pay the surcharge. Copyswede is taking legal action only against his company an one other. Jens hasn't paid the surcharge for almost two years. The compensation should be part of the price of the songs, Nylander argues. Likely sanctions for Jens are unknown."
I don't begin to understand how the tax system works in Europe, but it seems like Jens might be out of luck here. Hopefully public opinion can sway the government of Sweden to change their wacky "blank media tax".
I don't begin to understand how the tax system works in Europe, but it seems like Jens might be out of luck here. Hopefully public opinion can sway the government of Sweden to change their wacky "blank media tax".
