iPod Tax Taken Out Back and Shot

In my cool feeds today, I am happy to report that the digital levy on iPods proposed by the Canadian Copyright Board has lost in the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal.

"The Copyright Board erred in law when it concluded that it has the legal authority to certify the tariff," the appeal court said in its ruling.

The Retail Council of Canada, which argued at hearings this week, welcomed the decision last night.

"This has been a very long battle, but a necessary one," retail council president Diane Brisebois said in a statement. "Retailers have fought against these levies since their creation in 1997 because it taxes a product based on what a consumer possibly could use it for."

I don’t know what you think but taxes that imply individuals purchasing a certain product will be breaking the law is completely unfair.  How the Canadian Copyright Board thinks it can justify a levy on only certain MP3 players is unreal.  They took it all the way to the Supreme Court and lost. 

I know many people who have iPods that have purchased everything they have on it directly from iTunes or have imported their CD collection.  I have imported my CDs and, apparently, this is breaking the law.  I don’t understand how the law can drag so far behind the technologies out there.  In my mind, 99% of people would happily purchase the music if it were affordable and in the format they not only want but need.  The technologies are pushing the audio industry forward not the other way around.

Crazy.

[Cross posted from ShanesWorld.ca.]