Portugal plans digital device tax to pay artists' copyright
Portugal’s parliament is to debate a government proposal for a tax on the sale of digital devices – including phones, tablets and set-top boxes.
The more digital storage capacity the device has the higher the levy that would be charged.
The culture minister, Jorge Barreto Xavier, wants the 15 to 20 million euros that he believes would be raised by the tax to go to Portugal’s copyright organisations.
They would then pass the money on to artists, including musicians and writers.
The Portuguese Society of Authors backs the idea. Telecoms operators are opposed to it, saying this is a hidden tax.
The more digital storage capacity the device has the higher the levy that would be charged.
The culture minister, Jorge Barreto Xavier, wants the 15 to 20 million euros that he believes would be raised by the tax to go to Portugal’s copyright organisations.
They would then pass the money on to artists, including musicians and writers.
The Portuguese Society of Authors backs the idea. Telecoms operators are opposed to it, saying this is a hidden tax.