A fantastic suggestion from the Norwegian Government

 I know this is old news for most Norwegians, but I feel the need to express my feelings towards this. 
The Norwegian parliament put out the budget for 2011 this month. In it there was a suggestion to tax internet services like Spotify, iTunes, Steam, D2D and even e-books. Some of you may be familiar with this in your own countries, but if I told you that they plan on using our current VAT-system, which is a whooping 25%, I'm sure you'd think that it was ridiculous. 
 Not only does this affect the average Joe, but corporations also have to pay the additional fee for software. Just imagine how much softwarelisences for 100s of employees will cost if you add 1/4ths of the base price to the already steep cost of the product you're buying. 
 If this law goes through, our government can expect a rampant rise in piracy that would make Captain Blackbeard blush if he was alive today. 
 I for one will not stand for it if it passes.

 I know this is old news for most Norwegians, but I feel the need to express my feelings towards this. 
The Norwegian parliament put out the budget for 2011 this month. In it there was a suggestion to tax internet services like Spotify, iTunes, Steam, D2D and even e-books. Some of you may be familiar with this in your own countries, but if I told you that they plan on using our current VAT-system, which is a whooping 25%, I'm sure you'd think that it was ridiculous. 
 Not only does this affect the average Joe, but corporations also have to pay the additional fee for software. Just imagine how much softwarelisences for 100s of employees will cost if you add 1/4ths of the base price to the already steep cost of the product you're buying. 
 If this law goes through, our government can expect a rampant rise in piracy that would make Captain Blackbeard blush if he was alive today. 
 I for one will not stand for it if it passes.

Sounds good if the funds it generates are used responsibly.

All that money it would generate could make the costs beneficial, though 25% is much too steep. 
 
You would think they would want to encourage adoption of electronics and technology instead of making it more expensive for the average consumer to aquire.
 
Though at the end of the day, even as a Canadian I can't say much in the way of negativity about Norway. they have the happiest people on Earth so they probably know what they are doing =P

" All that money it would generate could make the costs beneficial, though 25% is much too steep.   You would think they would want to encourage adoption of electronics and technology instead of making it more expensive for the average consumer to aquire.  Though at the end of the day, even as a Canadian I can't say much in the way of negativity about Norway. they have the happiest people on Earth so they probably know what they are doing =P "

 they plan on using our current VAT-system, 

" They have the happiest people on Earth so they probably know what they are doing =P "

" @ahaisthisourchance said:

 they plan on using our current VAT-system, 

They use VATS in Norway?  Fucking awesome, I'll have to move there.  There's nothing like dismembering your political enemies in slow-motion. "

As an American, I've always been skeptical of new taxes. I couldn't imagine anything like that ever getting passed here.

Well, it's akin to road transit taxation (someone has to pay for the infrastructure to be maintained) and the 25% is a highball estimate.  More likely it'll come in around 10%.  I don't see an issue with this if the tax figure is more reasonable.

" @ahaisthisourchance said:

 they plan on using our current VAT-system, 

They use VATS in Norway?  Fucking awesome, I'll have to move there.  There's nothing like dismembering your political enemies in slow-motion. "

" @Xeiphyer said:

" They have the happiest people on Earth so they probably know what they are doing =P "

No, I think you're confusing us with the Danish :( "

" @Xeiphyer said:

" They have the happiest people on Earth so they probably know what they are doing =P "

No, I think you're confusing us with the Danish :( "

" @Xeiphyer said:

" They have the happiest people on Earth so they probably know what they are doing =P "

No, I think you're confusing us with the Danish :( "

Norway has a VATS system? Why the hell don't you go to war with other countries? Is it because you don't think you could make the headshot?

Ugh, I hope that proposition never runs through. I'm not Norwegian, but if your government does it, then I'm sure it won't be long before my country (Finland) decides to copy it.
 
Adding VAT to digital media would drastically reduce the appeal of awesome Steam sales. :(

As far as games go, VATS really only affect Xbox/Nintendo owners as all Sony's products except for UMD movies are region free and there's a good portion of inside-europe sites that offer region-free PS3/PSP games legally imported from the states. Hell, you could even buy bulk from the US and save enough to cover FedEx/UPS fees. Although there's alot of conveluded custums rules, such as you can buy software tax free if the purchase is within 8-200$, but you'll get fined in custums for puchasing pirated software (what the fuck, I know right o.O) 
Tis be silly! 
 
@Tordah said:

" Ugh, I hope that proposition never runs through. I'm not Norwegian, but if your government does it, then I'm sure it won't be long before my country (Finland) decides to copy it.  Adding VAT to digital media would drastically reduce the appeal of awesome Steam sales. :( "