Poland expands reprographic fee to smartphones, tablets and computers

Poland's Ministry of Culture and National Heritage amended the regulation on reprographic fees, adding smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions and other consumer electronics to the list of devices subject to the levy. The fee is set at 1 % of the device's price and is intended to raise annual revenues from about 36 million PLN in 2024 to between 150 million and 200 million PLN.

Law and Justice (PiS) politicians denounced the measure as a “new tax of Donald Tusk”, posting a campaign video that links the fee to the ruling coalition’s leader. The party argues the levy will increase prices for consumers, while critics point out that the fee had previously been considered by the PiS government in 2020‑21 but was withdrawn after industry opposition and a statement from President Andrzej Duda that he would not sign the law.

The change has sparked public debate, with commentary on social media accusing the fee of being outdated and unfair to users who copy content for personal use, while some defend it as compensation for creators whose works are reproduced on digital devices.