The U.S. has this system too.
Wikipedia: Private copying levy: United States
17 U.S.C. § 1008, as legislated by the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992, says that non-commercial copying by consumers of digital and analog musical recordings is not copyright infringement.
[…]
For digital audio recording devices, manufacturers and importers pay a 2% royalty on the device’s transfer price, with a minimum royalty of $1 and a maximum of $8 ($12 for dual recorders) per device. For digital audio recording media, manufacturers and importers pay a 3% royalty.
The problem with Napster was that that it was a business, not private. The problem with BitTorrent is that as you download you’re also uploading to the general public. In other words, publishing, which is a no-no.
But if you want to trade music with your friends and family, copying each other’s collections, go ahead. It’s not illegal, and thanks to the levy you pay regardless, it’s not unethical. That’s the deal put in place by the music industry.
