Monday, August 03, 2009

Chestnuts.

Once again, this time on Sveriges Radios Christer, the alternative of sticking a tax on broadband to compensate copyright-owners was raised. Not discussed, just raised.

Mm. I have no objection to paying copyright holders, but I do object to paying twice. I buy my music from emusic and iTunes, or on C.D.; shall I pay for the privilege of paying again? If a tax is introduced, I would expect file sharing to become legal. Fair is fair.

And who shall get this money? Shall we trust a private body to distribute this bounty? Shall it go to a select few artists based on their size, as the fees paid by shops do? What copyright holders shall qualify? Photographs are routinely pirated on the web. What burden of evidence will be placed on claimants? How will their share be calculated?

The gentleman who suggested this, with no further expansion, called himself a philosopher. Damn sloppy work, I have to say.  A degree does not a philosopher make.