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A REPORT ENDORSED by the French government has recommended imposing a tax on smartphones and tablets in a bid to fund artistic and creative ventures.
A nine-member panel produced a government commissioned report yesterday which also rejected the idea of Google being charged for linking to media content, according to News 24.
The report called for a 4 per cent tax on the sale of all smartphones, tablet and digital devices that allow access to the internet and “cultural content”.
The Financial Times says the report is broadly backed by Francois Hollande’s government.
“Companies that make these tablets must, in a minor way, be made to contribute part of the revenue from their sales to help creators,” culture minister Aurelie Filipetti is quoted as saying in the FT.
The panel, headed by journalist and businessman Pierre Lescure, said that demands from newspapers and other media organisations for compensation for linking to their content – which they argue Google is making revenue off – are legally doubtful.
Among 75 proposals, the tax on smartphones and tablets is the most striking but other recommendations included scaling back punishments for piracy which currently include internet connections being suspended and heavy fines.
The report said that piracy could be reduced if satellite and cable providers offered newly-released films on demand shortly after their release, RFI reports.
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Somebody stop Kenny and Noonan reading the papers.
They don’t need to do this,
When the broadcasting tax comes in it applies to all homes, Internet connections etc.
Far more money then that 2% tax will bring in for France per population
Read Barry’s post in a Yoda voice you must
Looks like it’s back to the Nokia 3310′s and Palm PDA’s for the French
Or their Minitels!
Ha Brilliant Brian! Thought that Minitel was a bit before my time but I just read there that there was still 10 million monthly connections made on Minitel in 2009! Crazy!
Stupid idea. Wont happen.
In Ireland, it will be called a “Broadcasting Licence”.
Just a different way of fleecing us.
Pat Rabbitte confirmed [in January 2012] that the Broadcasting Licence will replace the current TV licence.
Will the broadcast licence by more than the current licence?
It’s called the breathing and existence tax. If you pay it you are a mor-on!
I think you probably know the answer to that question, Ciaran.
Wouldn’t be so sure. They already have a similar tax on ALL media storage (hard drive, cd, USB key, the internal memory in the phones, etc.)
I didn’t know that Francois –
memories aren’t even free any more.
To “fund the arts”. Yeah……
Thats all we need is for our crowd to hear of this , our boys will probably call it the itax ,
iCon.
The TDs and Senators get free IPads plus IPhones from expensesm Guess who pays for this its us mugs the tax payers.
can we hope that angry birds distracts them long enough not to bring in any more misery / stupidity?
These are business/remote working devices… Every major corporation now provides similar to all mid-level employees. They are not toys given to people for amusement. If given one you would soon realize an intrusive, demanding bleeping device that follows you every weekend and day off is not a gratuitous perk. Your naivety suggests you have experienced very little of being a tax paying citizen
Come on Andrew, they just use them to check on thejournal.
You know it!
It irritates me to see TheJournal go down the road of click-baiting with the headline, but I imagine it’s becoming the only way to rile people.
The French intend to tax *smartphones* and *tablets* in the first paragraph, not just “iPads and iPhones” as per the tagline. As far as I can see Apple devices are merely one of many smartphones and tablets.
Keep it up, Hugh. You’ll work for Business Insider yet … ;)
Yes but now that somebody else though of it . Our muppets will do .
I guess the French don’t make smartphones?
But they really do love their own art.
Lol… the next thing they’ll try to tax is the the arts. … but with an ” f ” in front
Won’t happen here… Google and Apple have far too much FDI in Ireland to see this kind of dig in the ribs
No different to VAT on their products. Google/Apple won’t care.
It’ll only mean that any savvy French person will be buying their tech online via neighboring countries.
What is the journal’s obsession with apple products. The galaxy S3 surpassed the iphone in 2011. The sony experia Z surpassed them both in 2013 and there is no sign of apple catching up anytime soon.
I agree. I have a HTC one and it insults me when its always I this and I that. Apple don’t have the lead anymore
It’s called click-baiting. Congrats: we’re all successfully hooked.
Don’t be giving our lads ideas!
Theyre so f@c@i@g
thick they’d miss the gig anyway .
France wants to tax “Tablets” and “Smartphones” to fund the arts.
You wouldn’t think so reading the headline, would you? :)
I think I need to sit in a quiet corner for a while. All the death, destruction and misery in the world, and this is the only article that raises my ire. Wow. :(
They are as mad as our lot
As an old grumpy stick in the mud who is used to sitting around with his friends whoa are are basically having conversations with themselves through facebook via via their iphones. I am delighted with this tax.
iTax?
Other media report 1% ?? where did you guys got 4% from?
Will ya ever cop on
No.
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