[JTND] METI Mulls "Import Fees" on Japanese Music CDs from Asia

[Matatabi Report <editor@matatabi.com>]

From Yomiuri Shimbun(Japanese):

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) mulls the introduction
of "Import Right" on the music CDs of Japanese singers and bands that
are manufactured in foreign countries. Record companies in Japan would
collect "Import Fees" when the CDs are imported back to Japan. Those
imported music CDs are legally made and sold in the respective
countries under a license from the Japanese owners. In Japan, they are
sold much less than those made in Japan. Music industry claims the
imported-back CDs are hurting their business and wants "Import Fees"
to stop them flowing into the domestic market. Japanese Pop music has
become popular among the Asian youth and the music industry does
sizable business from the manufacturing and sales of CDs in the
region.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/top/20030226it01.htm

[The Japanese music CDs are just too expensive (The CDs by American
and British musicians that made in Japan have lower resale prices
because of the price competition from Tower Records and the other
import CD shops.). A CD album by Japanese artists costs U.S. $25 and
this resale price are protected under the resale price maintenance
system. That's the primary reason for us to rent CDs or to buy the
Asian imports. Music industry should stop blaming P2P or the Asian
imports, and should face realities. --Naoki]

[key_politics, key_entertainment]
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