Re: [dvd-discuss] Media Tariff Proposal of March 9, 2002

["Lars Gaarden" <larsg(at)eurorights.org>]

From: "Steve Hosgood" <steve@caederus.com>

> Arnold G. Reinhold" <reinhold@world.std.com> writes:
> > I am a United States citizen writing a Letter of Comment regarding 
> > the proposed new levies on recordable computer media and MP3 players.
> 
> That was the best laugh I've had all day, Arnold, but don't get too smug.
> Next thing you know is that the US Govt will say "in order to keep our
> laws compatable with Canada as required by XYZ international treaty, we'll
> have to have tariffs on recordable media too".
> 
> Cue massive emmigration to Europe.... :-)

That would be a waste of physical bandwith across the pond. Several
european countries already have, or are considering to implement, tariffs.

Rough overview of scandinavia:

1984 Iceland - recordable media and recording equipment, both analog and
digital.
1984 Finland - recordable media, and (recently) MP3 players.
1993 Denmark - recordable media, both analog and digital.
1998 Sweden - recordable media.

Norway does not have a tariff yet, but it is expected to be implemented
as a part of the copyright law changes that are required to comply with
the EU Copyright Directive.

-- 
LarsG