Dutch Pass iPod Tax

An anonymous reader writes "The Register is reporting that in a few short months a proposal to tax all MP3 players in the Netherlands will become law. The levy taxes 3.28 euros ($4.30 US) for every gigabyte of capacity. This means a 60GB iPod Photo will be hit for an additional 196 euros ($258), all of it going to the record industry's copyright collection agencies. And they call file sharers thieves?"

Will trade iPods for weed

[Rattencremesuppe]

Apple stores in Germany will probably welcome this law ;-)

Re:258$ "stealing" tax?!?

[PsychicX]

1) Charge a ridiculous tax on iPods
2) Profit!

Wait a second, something's missing here.

Cheap IPODs for sale

[Bapu]

It is very kind of the Dutch parliment to create this new business opportunity for the electronics retailers of Germany and Belgium. Let us hope that other EU member states approach this issue with a less corrupt attitude. Meanwhile, I'm going to invest in electronics outlets in Antwerp and Aachen.

Ogg Vorbis!

[MoogMan]

Another good reason to use OGG... *ducks*

The Netherlands 2006

[Andreas Schaefer]

You still can buy great hashish, marijuana, pre-rolled joints and space cookies in every other coffee shop in Amsterdam. And if you ask the right people, they'll point you in the direction of some dark alley where you can get an untaxed ipod. Just don't let the DEA catch you.

Re:wow.

[AussieVamp2]

buy that Apple Store franchise in Belgium NOW!

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Difference between New York and Amsterdam

[britneys 9th husband]

New York: Shady character standing in front of the Apple Store selling weed

Amsterdam: Shady character standing in front of the coffee shop selling imported iPods

Different meaning of "pass"

[The New Andy]

definitions for "pass" [answers.com]

pass v.tr
...
10. To discharge (body waste, for example); void.

It makes a bit more sense if you read it ("Dutch discharge body waste in the form of iPod tax") that way.

Just make sure you don't tell them

[DrewCapu]

that your computer with a 200+ Gig HD can play mp3s too.

Re:258$ "stealing" tax?!?

[jim_v2000]

1) Charge a ridiculous tax on iPods
2) Profit!

Wait a second, something's missing here.

Yeah, you're missing step 3:

3) ???

which represents the confusion and consternation of the general populace

Re:Just a proposal, hopefully...

[maxwell demon]

Well, that's nothing. Wait for the music industry for taxing your ears. Because after all, you can use them to listen to illegally copied music!

Re:Will trade iPods for weed

[SpaghettiPattern]

I'm amazed at how many people seem to know the Netherlands's neighbors are Germany and Belgium. On a predominantly USA forum I'd expect to hear neighboring countries like the Czech republic, Andorra or Reykjavik (which is a city.)

Re:wow.

[atomico]

Too late, dude! Let's see when does European Directive 45458962/87/2005 is issued, and we start paying 600 euros for a 100 GB harddisk for our desktop PC...

Re:Destroying their high-street shops

[dotgain]

Exactly the same thing has happened with the iTrip - it is illegal to sell or use here in the UK but so many have been imported, that they are turning a blind eye to the selling now.

It's legal to carry it, but, but, but that doesn't matter, because, get a load of this. If you get stopped by a cop in Amsterdam, it's illegal for them to search you. I mean that's a right the cops in Amsterdam don't have.

I'm f_kin going man, that's all there is to it.

Re:Australia is worse re alcahol

[Anonymous Coward]

A better question is why are Australians buying really watered down Vodka? at .0037 (.37%) volume of Alcohol they are really getting jipped.

Re:Big Deal

[VitaminB52]

For me it's only 46 km to the MediaMarket in Nordhorn, Germany. Plus my employer pays the fuel (company car - grin).
I will LOL all the way back home.

The only thing this tax proposal proves is that we don't have to travel to Washington D.C. to see stupid politicians.

Belgium

[d_p]

There's really no need to use profanity.

Re:Just a proposal, hopefully...

[nospmiS remoH]

Yeah, it's legal, but is ain't a hundred percent legal. I mean you can't log into any computer, open up a p2p app, and start downloadin' away. You're only supposed to download in your home or certain designated places.

Those are p2p bars?

Yeah, it breaks down like this: it's legal to buy it, it's legal to own it and, if you're the proprietor of a p2p bar, it's legal to sell it. It's legal to carry music, which doesn't really matter 'cause -- get a load of this -- if the cops stop you, it's illegal for this to search you. Searching you is a right that the cops in Amsterdam don't have.

That did it, man -- I'm fuckin' goin', that's all there is to it.

You'll dig it the most. But you know what the funniest thing about Europe is?

What?

It's the little differences...

Thank you to the Dutch goverment

[raider_red]

I'm going to run down to my travel agent this afternoon and book a plane ticket to Munich. While I'm there, I think I'll max out my credit card buying iPods, and jump on a train to Amsterdam. I should be able to make enough in black market sales to pay for my plane ticket home.

Ha!

[Safety Cap]

~ if we got universal health care.

Billary lover!!! Communist!!!!

If you don't love America and follow its leaders unquesiontionably, then get the hell out!

I'd love to stay and belittle you more, but I have to go to work my second shift. Health care ain't cheap, you know, and my WalMart job doesn't quite cover the $700/month health insurance I get rom my 9-5 IT job.

Re:Not in the US

[Mr. Underbridge]

The UK does NOT have a tax on general CD media. Only the "Audio" versions have a tax, and guess how many of THOSE get sold!

Thanks, my mistake. Wow, that's incredible though. How did that come to be, anyway? Did someone in Parliament with a brain trick the recording industry? Are there people who actually think there's a difference in the discs?

Hmmmm.....

[ayjay29]

1) Smuggle iPods into the Netherlands and trade them for weed.
2) Smuggle weed out of the Nehterlands and trade it for iPods
3) ????
4) Profit!

Re:Just a proposal, hopefully...

[JWW]

Paper is not an audio storage medium.

Ever heard of sheet music?

Re:Will trade iPods for weed

[poot_rootbeer]

Don't misunderestimate American's knowledge of world geometry! We know that "Andorra" is not next to Dutchland! It is the planet where Ewoks live!