OPINION: iPod taxes - are Apple being hypocritical?
As reported yesterday, Apple are fighting the record companies in Japan who want to impose a 2% “iPod tax” on MP3 players sold in Japan.
The record industry has been pushing for some sort of revenue share here in the States, but in Japan they’ve decided to pursue a strategy that has already failed in Canada and are petitioning the government there to institute a 2 to 5 percent tax on all portable digital audio players
Not surprisingly, goplayav.com and others spoke out against that.
But now, incredibly, Smarthouse are reporting that Apple are trying to impose their own tax on iPod accessory makers by charging a licence fee for access to the iPod port. Now if you thought even 2% was a bit greedy then you need to be sitting down because Apple want to charge 10%!
Apple is set to slug partners a massive 10% licence fee for access to an iPod port. The move will significantly impact iPod accessory manufacturers with some considering dropping accessories from their portfolio.Among the companies set to be hit is Bose who make the highly successful Bose iPod docking station music system. Dominique Water the head of Bose’s Asia Pacific operations said “All Apple partners were told of the decision some weeks ago. This is a massive licence fee which will not sit comfortable with many partners. Bose is not happy as the proposed fee is excessive by any standar
This really reeks. Apple’s behavior is worse than the recording industry’s. Rotten Apple, very rotten.
Apple need to be careful as accessory makers in response, are talking developing a common port to support Microsoft Windows based MP3 players. Although that would only be one small step, it is the sort of step that Microsoft are masters at exploiting. It becomes a chink in the iPod armor. No one is better at taking advantage of those chinks than Microsoft.
So be careful, Apple - and play fair too.
Read more: Apple To Slug Partners 10% Of All Revenue
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