In a decision in which the Canadian Private Copying Collective (somewhat analagous to the U.S.’ RIAA, except that the CPCC actually represents the interests of the artists) says that it is “disappointed”, the Canadian high court has this week let stand a ruling that the CPCC could no longer levy what some have been calling “pirate tax” on iPods, iPod shuffles, and other MP3 players.

And the key work is “player”.

The levy was put in place in 2003, after the group successfully lobbied for the tax by saying that because these new-fangled devices enabled the copying of songs, Canadian artists would lose their royalties through increased pirating. The move was opposed and protested by MP3 manufacturers such as Apple, who urged the Canadian courts to overturn the tax.

Explained the CPCC’s David Baskin, following this week’s ruling, “Obviously we’re disappointed. We felt it was self-evident that those products are sold for the purpose of…

[Continue reading Canada: No Pirate Tax on iPods, MP3 Players (They’re Players, Not ‘Enablers’…Hello!)