p2pnet - rss feed: Apple won’t pay up: Sacem
p2pnet.net News:- Apple consistently refuses to pay royalties on iPod music player sales in France, says Sacem, the country’s Society of Music Creators, Composers and Publishers which represents music copyright holders.
The French royalties levy came into force in July 2002 and taxes hard disks built into music players according to their size and on a top-of-the range iPod retailing at 550 euros ($677 US) at French department store FNAC, would come to 20 euros ($24.63), says an Associated Press report here.
“Sacem estimates that Apple sold 20,000 iPods in France last year, with disk capacities ranging from 10GB to 40GB”
In a statement, Sacem - which collects the payments - said unless Apple settles its “growing account” it’ll have “no other option than to go immediately to court to make sure that the rights of artists, composers and producers are respected,” says AP, adding:.
“In 2003, the society collected some 150-million euros ($185-million U.S.) in levies on hard disks and blank media sales on behalf of artists and other rights holders.”
March 10th, 2004 at 11:09 pm
If apple puts up a fight I suspect France will surrender
March 11th, 2004 at 3:10 pm
“make sure that the rights of artists, composers and producers are respected,” says AP, adding:”
- Screw the French and that stupid bullshit. Bunch of crooks. Apple has done more good to the music industry than anyone could ever dream off.
March 11th, 2004 at 3:13 pm
ha ha ha ha…
March 11th, 2004 at 3:47 pm
Why don’t they tax wooden shelves … they can hold mucic too.
March 11th, 2004 at 4:11 pm
Actually, a CD and disk-based levy exists in Canada as well. Now, here in Canada, the Government determined that it was legal to download MP3 (and ONLY download) for personal “research use”. Hence, this levy, paid to songwriters and publishers (I don’t know if Apple is paying it for their iPods or not). The battle is far from over between the government and the labels, however, and I think the whole thing is a poor solution and PROBABLY why Apple hasn’t opened up a Canadian iTMS, yet. Like if the government is giving tacet approval for “free” downloading, then who’d PAY for the music??
March 11th, 2004 at 5:47 pm
Apple can’t pay. If they pay the French it would be admitting that they are in the music business. And if they are in the music business, then they could lose their case with Apple Corp.
March 11th, 2004 at 7:25 pm
Do any of the artists see this money, if so, what percentage?
Hard to find info since there seems to be no english version…
http://www.sacem.fr/cgi-bin/portl/portailSacem/jsp/ep/home.do?a=1
March 12th, 2004 at 5:20 am
Pure crap. First, look at the prices of the iPod in France. $899 for the top of the line!!! Hey guys, Apple has set prices worldwide! Which means the iPod sells for $499 here, France, Australia, or friggin Ethiopia! The differences in prices in these countries are the taxes placed on them by their respective countries. I found this out when I used to live in Australia and the price difference was over $400 USD. Deep digging and talking to people in the know, revealed Apple’s worldwide policy. Believe me, France is already getting $400 in taxes from that iPod sale. Screw them, they just want more money, and probably wma media players for all in the end.
March 12th, 2004 at 2:26 pm
French Artist? what French Artist. I haven’t heard anything good from France since Maurice Ravel composed “Bolero”
March 12th, 2004 at 2:50 pm
What about Francis Sinatra?