France preparing tax on Apple and Google to fund culture Mr Lescure believes that a 4pc tax on the sale of smartphones and tablets, namely Apple's iPhone and iPad and Google Android products, could boost government revenues as consumers are spending more money on hardware than on content. "Companies that make these tablets must, in a minor way, be made to contribute part of the revenue from their sales to help creators," Aurelie Filipetti, the culture minister, said. But coming hard on the heels of the Mr Hollande's moves to increase taxes on the rich and force cuts in bankers" bonuses, the proposed tax has already stirred up controversy DigitalEurope, which lobbies in Brussels for smartphone makers, said the tax was "a move in the wrong direction." It also risks alienating further the world's leading technology companies after industrial renewal minister Arnaud Montebourg blocked Yahoo!"s bid to buy the Gallic version of YouTube. French officials are also pushing to ensure that their artistic products remain exempt from free trade rules during talks on a planned trade agreement between the EU and the US. US President Barack Obama will next month travel to Europe to launch the talks, which would create the world's largest free-trading bloc if they were successful.