On Thu, Jun 28, 2001 at 04:02:03PM +0930, Richard Sharpe ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
> Jobst Schmalenbach wrote:
>
> > On Thu, Jun 28, 2001 at 12:53:38AM +1000, Adam F. Bogacki ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
>wrote:
> >
> >> The NZ government Government is proposing to charge GST on software
> >> downloaded over the internet, possibly threatening the open-source model of
> >> software distribution.
> >
> >
> > This is actually in FAVOUR of linux.
> > If companies have to pay more for software (add 10% to the purchase) they'll
> > start thinking and move to a more viable option(s).
> >
> > ....... and $0 + 10%gst = $0
>
> Ummm, I don't think you understand how GST works. At least here in Oz,
> companies get to deduct the GST they have paid from the GST remittance
> they make to the government.
I dont, thats why I have accountants! But I actually asked two of them
what happens when I buy software from USA (now and future, if we need to pay 10%).
Software (currently) is not taxed if you **download** it. If it gets
via customs, add 10%. In the future (if this law will get through) downloads
will be taxed with 10%, too! (BTW governments would be silly not to take
this revenue, thinking that MOST of software will be via internet anyway!!)
And yes you get *SOME* of it back. You will not get all of it back or
there wouldnt be any point of the 10% GST anyway, wouldnt it????
>
> So, the reality is that for companies, things do not cost 10% more, so
> there is no advantage to using free software.
No advantage?
You have in your signature "SAMBA" included. Lets take that as an
example, shall we?
WinNT server : $600
Per seat license: $ 70 (not sure here, little bit more/less)
So for a company with 20 workstations:
1x$600
20X $70
---------
$2000 versus Samba: $0
No incentive?
You must be kidding!
jobst
--
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