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| Image: unlibroèunlibro |
It is not often that the Italian government is praised for a tax decision but tonight I join others in congratulating them on their decision to defy the EU and reduce VAT on ebooks from 22% to 4%, thus giving ebooks fiscal parity with conventional books. The change comes into force on January 1st.
The EU, for some inexplicable reason, does not regard ebooks as a "cultural product" and France and Luxembourg have already incurred its wrath by bringing in a similar change. Now Italy, too, could find itself at the European Court of Justice over the matter, but Culture Minister Dario Franceschini has said it is worth the risk in order to protect the cultural industry and the book market as a whole.
Marco Polilli, president of the Associazione Italiana Editori, which started the twitter campaign #unlibroèunlibro ["a book is a book"] has said that the decision is "a victory for the country and not just for the world of books..... it is a success for readers, for [hitherto] non-readers who will now be able to choose how they read and above all, a victory for common sense."
Well done, Italy!
2 comments:
Hello Pat, well that is fabulous news , and yes a "book is a book" but I still prefer "paper in my hands" ..
Would like to wish you a Very Happy new year, I hope that you had a great Christmas too. Love to you and Simi, xx
Hi, Anne. I like to have a paper book in my hand too, but I can see a place for ebooks. Happy New Year to you, too. xx and wags from Simi
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