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> Canadians pay levies on recordable media I find this concept very objectionable. If I buy a blank CDROM for the purpose of distributing my own software then
by xirium 18y ago
> Canadians pay levies on recordable media
I find this concept very objectionable. If I buy a blank CDROM for the purpose of distributing my own software then music companies receive some of the proceeds of the sale because I could have used the discs to copy their work.
That's a bad law because I'm assumed to be guilty and I have no recourse to prove innocence. Furthermore, why is the levy specific to recordable media? If we're going to be fair then we should have similar levies on cars, crowbars and numerous other items which can be used in crimes that deprive people.
- tptacek 18y agoYou realize that almost every other public good is funded this way, right? Edit ... not that Miley Cyrus is a public good, but still.
- mrtron 18y agoI also think it is a direct result of the power of the giants. In the US, the RIAA can sue individuals for large sums of money. In Canada, you can't sue for any amount - you have to show damages. So if downloading a song was copyright infringement here, you would only be able to sue for the cost of the song. So, it is in the recording association's to have a levy rather than to pursue individual legal action here.
- xirium 18y agoTaxes may be levied unfairly and they may provide facilities that individuals don't use. However, they are for collective benefit, public ownership and with nominal charge for use, at most. In the case of recordable media levies, the law enriches a private industry to the detriment of the public, distorts a market to the detriment of the public and doesn't exempt us from further fees. Specifically, after you've bought one blank CDROM, you're not exempted from one album sale.