3 ms·
> What's next, hard disk manufacturers? Internet providers? You're joking, but in some countries there are taxes on blank recording media: https://en.wikipedia
by ratww 6y ago
> What's next, hard disk manufacturers? Internet providers?
You're joking, but in some countries there are taxes on blank recording media: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_copying_levy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_copying_levy
- La1n 6y agoAnd in the Netherlands those used to make sense. As downloading copyrighted material was legal for personal use https://mashable.com/2014/04/10/downloading-pirated-content-is-now-illegal-in-the-netherlands/?europe=true https://mashable.com/2014/04/10/downloading-pirated-content-...
- formerly_proven 6y agoIntroduce levy to cover for people copying stuff, then introduce copy protection and anti-circumvention laws so copying becomes illegal. Continue to collect levy. Ingenious.
- Hamuko 6y agoI think the basis is that you're still allowed to make private copies of CDs/DVDs/etc pretty much throughout EU.
- Faark 6y agoNot when you'd need to circumvent DRM, thanks to EU Copyright Directive Article 6.
- throwaway09223 6y agoSome countries including the USA, for those who haven't bothered reading the link. This is why decades ago you could buy blank CDR media designated for "music" at a slightly higher price. They are identical to "computer" CDRs, but the seller pays a fee to the copyright office.
- m4rtink 6y agoIn the Czech Republic you need to pay this levy on blank media (see point number 1 & 6 on https://www.mkcr.cz/frequently-asked-questions-953.html?lang=en https://www.mkcr.cz/frequently-asked-questions-953.html?lang...) to a shadowy state mandated cartel of "designated rightholders" where the money preaty much disappears from the face of the Earth. AFAIK there is no way around it, even in professional environment - we build a couple hard drives for a an internal company server and this levy was clearly marked there. Same thing for all the other extortion money they extract from music festivals, pubs, hotels, radio stations, etc. - they do use some of it to bribe the most prominent and vocal old school artists to basically do advertising for their cause but the rest safely hits their coffers.
- xtracto 6y agoThis reminded me of the Russian/ROMS/AllOfMp3 saga. That was a service way ahead of its time... Even now it is difficult to find such a good catalogue of music in lossless format.