Pirate Tax Makes Sense

[dgridley]

Columnist John C. Dvorak suggests in a recent column that blank CD’s and DVD’s be taxed (or, more properly, levied) as a sort of “pirate tax” or “hush money” to quiet the ranting and raving coming out of Hollywood regarding the copying of movies. Seems a similar schema was adopted for analog audio tapes and Canada levies a portion of the proceeds from blank CD’s for just this reason. makes sense to me, too! What do you think?

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2067411,00.asp

 

[viciouscircle]

This is effectively already being done in the U.S. thanks to the Audio Home Recording Act. The act was referenced in the article relating to DAT, however it is also applicable to such devices as a CDRW drive (currently $2 if I am not mistaken...) and blank audio cdrs (3% of the sale price).

There are major issues relating to the entertainment industry, intellectual property, and other areas associated with the "piracy problem" currently ongoing, and throwing money at them is not going to solve anything. I'll avoid getting into most of those issues (ex: huge profit margins, "fact" creation, etc) and just point out the fact that there is absolutely no reason for the RIAA, MPAA or any other group to stop their current business practices just because they're making more money they don't actually deserve.

 

[whitebark]

This tax levy has been in place in Canada for a couple-three years now. It has not stopped the recording industry from trying to get even more. They got their extra money to recoup costs/losses yet they have mounted more challenges in the Canadian court system.

Can't say I blame them though, but there you are.

 

[viciouscircle]

This tax levy has been in place in Canada for a couple-three years now. It has not stopped the recording industry from trying to get even more. They got their extra money to recoup costs yet they have mounted more challenges in the Canadian court system.

Can't say I blame them though, but there you are.

Exactly my point! Most people are greedy, and record executives are known as a group for being stereotypically more greedy than the average person. They have no reason not to attempt to get more money when the public is effectively saying they will keep giving it up without a real fight.

 

[dgridley]

Well, would be nice to see legislation put this all into perspective and cap this sort of thing

 

[viciouscircle]

Well, would be nice to see legislation put this all into perspective and cap this sort of thing

Legislation isn't a solution. It simply changes the loopholes. If anything, legislations have been adding to this problem.

 

[Grey_OwL]

I don't think taxing this thing will solve the problem--it's not even an act of solving the problem. Definitely not a good idea.

 

[LeetPCUser]

The RIA already gets $1 per spindle, why give them more?

 

[whitebark]

The RIA already gets $1 per spindle, why give them more?

Well because Britney Spears needs to pay for her divorce of course. The record execs need another vacation in the tropics and the lawyers need to be paid off...

 

[LeetPCUser]

That is true. I never thought about that. While I am at it I want a yacht. Who wants to pay for that?