This is an EU customs regulation which says in essence that foreign sites selling electronic goods or services into the EU are required to collect and pay EU VAT.
The last time I checked, the downloading of software and provision of financial services was considered as being covered. For instance sites which sell software by downloads have started deducting the EU Vat from the proceeds paid to the customer.
More information at
http://ecommerce.internet.com/news/n...194111,00.html