French courts require foreign vendors to remind customers about 'iPod tax'
A French court has ruled that online retailers shipping music players to addresses in France must warn the customer that they will have to pay the "iPod tax" once the device arrives in the country.
France enacted a levy designed to compensate copyright holders to the tune of €40 per device for illegal file copying. French retailers roll the levy into their price, making vendors outside France more attractive, price-wise. The levy applies to music players, USB storage, and blank media.
While the warning is now necessary, it's no guarantee that the tax will be paid.
The UK, Canada and Japan have all considered or tried a similar fee, but all have failed for one reason or another.
[Via The Register.]
