Tokyo (Japan) - The Japanese government has proposed a new tax on iPods and other digital music players. The so-called Copyright Tax would add approximately $1 per device and the estimated $9.5 million annual proceeds would be distributed to recording companies and artists. In Japan, Minidisk and DVD players are also subject to a Copyright tax and it seems the law makers are just trying to level the playing field.
A similar proposal was floated in Japan in December 2005, but was quickly shot down.
Read more ... International Herald Tribune.
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Once you've paid said tax are you now allowed to copy things at will?
You've paid your tax due.
I can smash someone over the head with a toaster. Not the same as copyright infringement I grant you; but it’s illegal none the less.
I don’t see a medical health tax added to the receipt. Maybe there should be a dollar added to my toaster - Its a fair price to pay to hit some colleagues.