From: "James J. O'Donnell" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 19:28:01 -0800 The New York Times reports: European E-Book Sales Hampered by Tax Structure -- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/technology/eu-e-book-sales-hampered-by-tax-structure.html As the peculiarity of state and local sales taxes gives a loophole in the US, the default Value Added Tax of up to 25% catches a new product in Europe (while print books benefit from an old exemption and thus a discounted tax rate, a rate indeed at zero in Britain). France threatens to break ranks, the EU huffs, etc. A very lucid article. Jim O'Donnell Georgetown U.