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Blank Media Prices Could Soar In Canada

Posted by timothy on from the going-up dept.

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!"

5 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. In that case... by digerata · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I live in the US and since our prices aren't going up...

    Send me a check in the mail for whatever you want plus 5% commission and shipping charges and I'll send you back your buy.

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    1;
  2. I hope it does pass! by Dimwit · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The whole point of this "tax" is to cover the supposed cost of piracy. With money like that, they have no right to say you can't pirate - "Of course I can pirate, the cost to the recording industry was covered when I bought the blanks!"

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    ...but it's being eaten...by some...Linux or something...
    1. Re:I hope it does pass! by Screaming+Lunatic · · Score: 5, Insightful
      That is not the whole point. RTFL (Read the fucking legislation) It's called the "Private Copying Tariff".

      A "private copy" is a copy of a track, or a substantial part of a track, of recorded music that is made by an individual for his or her own personal use. A compilation of favorite tracks is a good example of how people typically use private copies. In contrast, a copy made for someone else or for any purpose other than the copier's own use is not a private copy.

      So I'm paying a levy because my Matt Good CD is in my CD player at home, but I have a copy sitting in my car, so I won't lose it, scratch it, etc.

      And 75% of that levy is marked for "record publishers" which may be national corporations. 25% is marked for artists and local record companies. So Matt Good or Battle Axe Records won't be seeing squat compared to what Sony would get.

  3. Time for Canada to ditch Copyright by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I hope that Canada carries this policy to its logical conclusion:

    Canada should ditch copyright completely. Artists could be paid a government stipend based entirely on popularity (wonderful deal for artists, let me tell you). The government can levy an 'Entertainment' tax in whatever manner it chooses.

  4. Re:I may start ordering CDs from Canada... by metacosm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What about people who use this Media/Hardware for other purposes -- why should they have to suffer!

    It is scary the massive amount of power the media industry must wield in Canada.

    Beyond that, it won't work. Honestly, in the age of globalization and the internet, it seems all this would do is drive people to order media online only and in bulk (to reduce shipping costs and dodge the tax).