Do you know that electronic companies have to pay tax on any recordable media like blank CDs, mini-discs or any storage device.
If one buys a CD, and makes a copy on a MP3 player to listen to it when outdoors, should the author be compensated once more for this copy? According to copyright rules, any copy represents a “multiplication” in the sense of copyright law and therefore levies are charged. This is not true in Canada where making copies for personal use is permitted by copyright law regardless of blank media levies.
The consumer electronics industry hates these levies, which have been around since the 1960s, arguing that they are inconsistent, confusing and above all very expensive. Fees vary greatly from country to country.
For a multifunctional printer, for example, the levy is €178.84 in Belgium, but nothing in the Netherlands next door. MP3 players such as Apple’s iPod are subject to a €25 levy in France, but just €3.15 in Spain. The UK is a notable exception in allowing no private copying at all – and therefore has no levies. link.