Treasury 'Linux tax' plans provoke anger

[Chris]

 

Open source groups have reacted angrily to UK government plans to tax open-source software. A discussion document prepared by parliamentary under-secretary, John Healey and Inland Revenue consultant, Sir Alan Olde-Moody, has proposed a windfall tax on all projects published under the GNU licence - including, most significantly, Linux.

Apparently hidden within Budget documentation in March, the proposal has led to an outcry and Internet discussion groups are already filled with supporters planning a campaign along the lines of the successful anti-patent rally last year.

A Treasury spokesman, however, has stressed that the proposals remain just that. “Nothing has been decided yet, this is just one idea out of many that is being examined," he said. But, he added that: "the Treasury is mindful of the fact that commercially available open-source software has been developed by people who have not been contributing tax on those activities." This means that "a level playing field" with commercial software companies - who pay income tax, corporation tax and National Insurance contributions - is not possible, he said.

More | Here

[Morrissey]

"Inland Revenue consultant, Sir Alan Olde-Moody, " :lol:

another april 1st story.

[mark2]

"Inland Revenue consultant, Sir Alan Olde-Moody, "  :lol:

another april 1st story.

Can you ever be sure with this government. :unsure:

[popeye]

I would not put it past the "Blues Brothers" Brown & Blair. :lol:

[Morrissey]

Email from techworld:

"It was Techworld's April Fool.

We thought the Alan Olde-Moody reference was a bit of a

giveaway but some people fell for it.

Regards

Maxwell Cooter

Editor, Techworld"

just thought you should know :ph34r: