Canadian Publishers May Appeal Block On 'iPod Tax'

Collecting society the Canadian Private Copying Collective says it may appeal against a court ruling which has blocked its efforts to obtain compensation for music creators through extending Canada's private-copying levy to cover "digital audio recorders." In a statement, the CPCC said it could still take the matter to the Supreme Court of Canada. Labels body the Canadian Recording Industry Assn. was among the bodies opposed to the levy. (Billboard)

Canada : Controversial 'iPod tax' struck down on appeal

A proposed levy on digital music players that became known this summer as the "iPod tax" has been struck down after opponents argued it was unfair to Canadians. The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that the Canadian Copyright Board did not have the right to put levies on new digital music players when it announced such fees would be allowed starting this year. The board wanted to place a charge of between $5 and $75 on each new device, depending on the number of songs it could hold. (Globe and Mail)

UK Intellectual Property Office Launches Consultation on Copyright Law

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), established last year on recommendation of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, has launched a consultation on the future of copyright in the digital age. The launch took place last Saturday at the British Library. Lord Triesman, the Minister for Intellectual Property, gave the keynote address and participated in the debate. (DRM Watch)

Dutch group loses bid for MP3 player levy

A Dutch rights organization which compensates artists for the use of their copyrighted material on Tuesday lost its court bid to remove a government block on new levies on MP3 media players. The Netherlands already has a levy on blank CDs and DVDs but the government says the musicians' and actors' group Norma was not distributing the cash efficiently and wanted the problems solved before new levies were created. (Reuters)