[Grumpyreader]

Absolutely - we're all talking about the same thing.

The original point was that someone said it wasn't "fair" that paper books incurred no VAT (0% rated or exempt, I can't remember which) whilst ebooks had VAT at standard rate.

As there are arguably more raw materials going into a paper book than an electronic one, logically paper books should have VAT at standard rate too but this is a policy decision rather than a technical one.

Would I prefer ebooks to be 0% rated? Absolutely. Do I want this to be at the expense of paper books losing their 0% status or the playing field evened with both having standard rating? No.

The squeaky wheel doesn't always get the oil. Some times it gets hit with a huge mallet...

Remember when we all complained that women got their pension at 60 but men had to wait til 65? Did they lower the male retirement age? No, they raised the female one. I think the Government would see the ebook situation the same way.