Japanese consumers will not have to pay an 'iPod tax', the country's government has decided.

Japan has, since 1993, levied a duty on devices and media capable of recording music. This week, a government panel met to consider whether the duty should be extended to digital music players, website Japan Today reports.

The royalty, which typically ranges from ¥4 ($0.03/£0.02) per MiniDisk to ¥400 ($3.36/£1.95) for a MiniDisk recorder, is paid to artists and other copyright holders. ®