[A2k] EU Levies- Tech firms complain to EU President

[Michelle Childs]

Several tech firms have complained to EU President about the decision to
withdraw a DG Market proposal to 'reform' the levy system . In most, but
not all EU Member States  private copy copyright levies are placed on
equipment and blank media. It has become a very controversial issue. See a
news report below

http://euobserver.com/9/23499/?rk=3D1

[Focus] Big computer lobby takes aim at Barroso
15.02.2007 - 09:19 CET | By Andrew Rettman
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Seven leaders of big-hitting electronics firms say
their confidence is shaken in European Commission president Jose Manuel
Barroso, after Brussels late last year buried reforms of the EU internet
download market.

"Industry's confidence has been shaken by the sudden withdrawal of the
proposed reforms, we look to you personally to lead the way forward," the
lobby of CEOs, chairmen and corporate presidents said in a 12 February
letter addressed to the commission chief.

The broadside was signed by EU firms Nokia and Philips, US companies
Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Intel as well as Japanese giants Matsushita and
Sony. Collectively, the seven companies have sales of some =80320 billion a
year - three times the EU's annual budget.

The criticism comes after Mr Barroso last December canned a recommendation
from his right-hand man on the single market - Charlie McCreevy - one week
before it was due out. The document had threatened to re-carve the
fast-growing, =801.6 billion a year sector of so-called "private copy
levies."

The commission president made the surprise move just a few days after a
memo from Paris told him EU member states want a "deeper dialogue" on the
levies, despite the fact that Brussels had already carried out a year-long
stakeholders' consultation on the subject.

France argued that the status quo - which sees European artists' trade
unions skim a fee off most internet-related gadgets to compensate for
piracy - promotes "cultural diversity." Mr Barroso's move won praise from
artists' groups, fronted by stars like film-maker Pedro Almodovar.

The computer sector has already threatened to take Brussels to the EU
courts to get its way, saying new anti-piracy software has put the old
levy regime out of date. The stinging letter came complete with 2006
quotes from Mr Barroso's own commissioners and cabinet staff expressing
"confidence" the reform would take place last year.

"A reply will be sent shortly," Mr Barroso's spokeswoman told EUobserver
on Wednesday (14 February). "It's likely to say that this is a complex
issue and that we need further consultation with stakeholders," she added,
with Brussels still declining to name a day for any new proposals in the
field.

The spokeswoman brushed aside suggestions that the commission chief is
going soft on EU capitals in some areas in order to help smooth his own
reappointment after 2009. "He's not thinking about that. He's just doing
his work," she said.
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=A9 2007 EUobserver, All rights reserved
 Barroso: has another battle on his hands (Photo: European Commission)



--
Michelle Childs -Head of European Affairs
Consumer Project on Technology in London
24, Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX,UK.
Tel:+44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252.
Mob:+44(0)790 386 4642. Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607
http://www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA .Tel.:
+1.202.332.2670,Fax: +1.202.332.2673

Consumer Project on Technology in Geneva
1 Route des  Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 6727