humm

And how much does 153 CHF = in American dolalrs. If its dollar thats massive, if 153 CHF is $5.00 US then who cares.

google?

153 swiss francs is 145 dollars

i suppose

apple can't stay neutral on this one?

Perfect Example

Of the Government just not getting it.

not very smart

Do they have a levy on CDR?
Do they have a levy on VHS tapes or casette tapes?
Do they have a levy on computer harddrives?

It's the same flat rate no matter if it's 1gb shuffle or 160gb iPod classic? Not very smart.

With such a high levy, people are just going to buy iPods from outside of the country and avoid the local tax and levy so the government will get zero instead os something.

Swiss

Salaries here in Switzerland are very high - 45CHF (US$43) is for most people nothing, and not even worth thinking about. That said the amount charged is a sliding scale of sorts based on capacity, how the money is distributed I am not sure.

That said, Apple shouldn't be trying to interfere in other countries politics just because they want to make more money.

@Swiss

"Apple shouldn't be trying to interfere in other countries politics just because they want to make more money."

Maybe Apple is not trying to interfere with countries politics, just their corruption.

If the music on those iPods is American artists, is that money going to go to the American artists or to Swiss artists or just to the Swiss government?????

Just how does a govt official know what songs are being put on an iPod anyway??? Magic??

A Question. Is it OK to copy songs from anywhere and anyone in Switzerland and not pay for them cause you are paying the government or is the govt double dipping???

Maybe Apple is asking those same questions. Maybe the Swiss govt is going to pay the makers of the ZUNE $1 to pay to Universal cause MS admits that Zune users steal songs from Universal artists. ???

Just some cranky thoughts for a friday. :-)

Just a thought.

en

Let it go

I think Apple doesn't need to fight this fight there. If everyone there is bound by the same (albeit dopey) rule, and the people of that country are apparently "okay" with it, then role with it.

Money, Money, Money

SNM.IJMUMOA ;)

Swiss all criminals?

Apparently, the Swiss Government thinks all of its population are criminals. "You must pay a fee because you will pirate music on your iPod." I guess once you pay the fee, you are assumed a criminal and might as well just download pirated music/video willy-nilly. You've already been judged and fined, so go get your booty.

Swiss

I am not saying I agree with it and to be honest I would be interested in how any tax that is collected is distributed. My understanding is that it goes to the artists as as you point out, which artists? or only to Swiss ones. However, if Switzerland decides they want to support local artists through additional charges on MP3 players that is up to them and not Apple.
My main point really is that the amount of tax that a country chooses to apply to products that are sold within that country are up to the country in question and not up to large multinationals like Apple. Let's not forget that Apple's only aim is to make money.

RE: @Swiss

Maybe Apple is not trying to interfere with countries politics, just their corruption.If that's the case, Apple would be spending all it's time trying to uncorrupt the US government. :)