California May Tax Music And Porn Downloads

Assemblyman Charles Calderon of the City of Industry wants to revive a moldy blue law and tax music and pornography downloads in an attempt to pull California out of its deficit.

Well, it's a tiny bit more complicated than that. Goods downloaded off the internet aren't considered "tangible property" at the moment. Calderon seeks to revise a 75-year-old law ... something about widgets ... that would make them so, and thus susceptible to taxation.

While it's no surprise taxing music and porn might defibrillate a weakened economy, it's an ugly prospect, and Republicans (who hate taxes in all forms, especially when they help people) are pissed off. There are questions about whether the law would increase illegal downloading and if this decision would spur tech companies to relocate outside of California.

Personally, I think it's dead in the water. iTunes and other music download sites already receive complaints that they're charging too much for singles. And porn, well ... porn is expensive, man! Except the free stuff. But that's neither here nor there.

Wait, where was I? Porn. Delicious porn....

What do you think? Think Calderon has a chance in hell?

Plan would tax music downloads [Mercury News]
[via Slashdot]