Blank Media Prices Could Soar In Canada

kidlinux writes "The Canadian Coalition for Fair Digital Access (CCFDA) composed of businesses like HP, Apple, Best Buy, and Costco may consider pulling recordable media products like mp3 players, digital cameras, and associated media if a recording industry backed media levy is ratified. From the article "if the proposed levy is approved MP3 players such as Creative Labs's Nomad, RCA's Lyra, and Apple's Ipod will increase $112 or more on average". Blank CDs will go up from $50 (on which we already pay $21 in levies) to $88 dollars per pack of 100. The media levies have been getting worse and worse here. Personally, I think sales of above mentioned items will speak for themselves, however, the CCFDA's website has contacts for the Government of Canada's representatives - contact them with your objections!"

Comments

Incomplete link.

[Dr Caleb]

It should be: http://canada.gc.ca/

The actual place to find MP's emails is here. Imagine that, an editor not checking the links.

Re:exchange rate

[crow]

Actually, $112.00CND is $71.7810US. Still significant.

Re:50$ for 100 blank CDs? I don't think so.

[Screaming Lunatic]

You live in Prince George? Ouch, that's gotta hurt. You can get 100 CDs $39 from here. These are 80min,48x CDs. Probably get the 72min cheaper elsewhere.

Email your MPs

[Screaming Lunatic]

Here's the email is sent to my MP, the Industry, Heritage, and Finance Ministers. I encourage other Canadian /.ers to do the same.

Dear Sirs and Madam,

I am very concerned about the Private Copying Tariff that I am forced to pay every time that I purchase recordable media. I am enraged that the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) and the Copyright Board are proposing to increase the tariff.

First and foremost, the CPCC is responsible for collection, distribution and enforcement of this tariff. However, the CPCC is not an arm of the government and therefore is not accountable to voters and taxpayers.

Secondly, they have collected $28 million over the last few years. However, they have not distributed any of the collected monies. Furthermore, 75% of the collected levy is earmarked for publishers. These publishers do not have to be Canadian business and most likely will be large American record labels. Local artists and record companies are forced to fight over the smaller piece of the pie. This should be a great concern for the Honourable Heritage Minister.

The levy applies to all recordable media despite what said media may be used for. Whenever I archive pictures of my family, record labels benefit. Whenever I backup data, record labels benefit. This should be a great concern for the Honourable Minister of Industry. The bottom line of businesses that rely on recordable media is affected.

What is most disturbing is that I am considered a thief the moment I purchase recordable media. I am given no opportunity to present my case.

Currently, I am able to purchase a CD-R for about $0.39 retail. Of that $0.39, $0.21 of the cost is the levy. The new proposed levy is $0.59. That is absolutely ridiculous. About 75% of the cost of the CD will be the levy.

I urge all Members of Parliament to consider the effects this levy will have on Canadians and Canadian business. This levy benefits large record labels and is detrimental to average Canadians and independent artists in particular.

Sincerely,

Re:Email your MPs

[Blue_Fox]

Sending to your MP is good. Forget the ministers listed on the web site, since the Liberals around Cretien aren't about to start listening now. Just look at the $2M gun registry that will end up costing taxpayers 500 times that amount.

Back benchers are being heard now, so there is a good chance things can be changed if enough people take issue with the levy.

Snow season is here, and if we're lucky as a nation, perhaps Mr. Cretien will decide to take a walk in it.

(For our American friends, Trudeau, a former Prime Minister, took what has become a famous "walk in the snow" during which he decided to retire.)

Re:50$ for 100 blank CDs? I don't think so.

[roll_w.it]

or $32 here

a letter I sent back in March ...

[LUN!X]

BSD license applies :) comments welcome too

Dear Sirs and Madam,

I am objecting to the CPCC proposal for further taxation on computer back-up media and other recordable Compact Discs, as I believe that the proposed levy will further impose unfair penalties upon the honest people that use Compact Discs. I hope and pray that you people, who are in the position to do great harm by ratifying the CPCC proposal, will also object to it.

It is evident that monies collected via the proposed tariff will be paid to representatives of the music industry, even though I personally use the Compact Disc media itself solely in a legal fashion, as I am entitled by copyright law.

I find it distressing that this proposal advocates another tax in excess of those already levied, merely to support continued legal use of the Compact Disc media that I use. I contend that if I am to give money to the record industry, then it is only right that I should receive fair value in exchange - and more importantly, that any such transaction should be willful and deliberate, not in the form of extortion that the proposal recommends.

I thank you for your time and consideration; please summarily reject the CPCC proposal so that my rights, and those of my fellow Canadians, may not be unjustly abrogated.

Sincerely,

insert full name and address here

Re:Cross the Border

[Dr Caleb]

Not just for CD's. The legislation applies to all recordable digital media. DVD+RW's, Hard discs, magnetic tape etc. That's why iPod's will cost more.

So we get to pay the CPCC/RIAA just to be able to boot an O/S or back it up. Aren't we lucky!?!