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

Mail order.

[GMontag451]

Just buy them mail order. $50 per 100 is already incredibly expensive. You can get 400 for $60 at places in the US.

Re:Mail order.

[roseblood]

Well, I can see this as a nice opportunity for profit. Let the smuggling begin!

It's only a matter of time...

[HotNeedleOfInquiry]

Before they levy a media charge for pencil and paper.

I may start ordering CDs from Canada...

[lightspawn]

Since they're music-industry prepaid, I can record any (RIAA) music I like legally on them, right?

Re:Email your MPs - minor mods

[LUN!X]

Just made a couple minor mods to parent post.. basically the same thing. Props to Screaming Lunatic of course :D

Dear Sirs and Madam,

I am overwhelmingly displeased with the Private Copying Tariff that I am forced to pay every time that I purchase recordable CD media. I am enraged that the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) and the Copyright Board are proposing to increase this 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 to the people supposedly deserving of those monies. Furthermore, 75% of the collected levy is earmarked for publishers. These publishers are not necessarily Canadian businesses and indeed, most are large American record labels. Local artists and record companies are forced to fight over the smaller piece of the ill-gotten pie. This should be a great concern for the Honourable Heritage Minister.

The levy applies to all recordable media, despite my intentions for that media. As an example, whenever I archive pictures of my family, record labels benefit. Whenever I back up my personal data, record labels benefit. This should also be of great concern to the Honourable Minister of Industry, since the bottom line of businesses that rely on consumers purchasing recordable media is ultimately adversely affected by this unfair tariff imposed at the behest of record labels.

What is most disturbing is that I am treated as a thief every time that I purchase recordable media. I am given no opportunity to present my case, nor am I accorded the dignity and respect that I deserve as a law-abiding Canadian citizen. I find it particularly galling that the American recording industry is primarily responsible for this insult.

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 all Canadians.

Sincerely,
your name here

Re:a letter I'm sending now...cc'd to all members

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Members of Parliament,

I would like to take this opportunity to convey my objects to proposed changes to the Private Copying Tariff that I am forced to pay every time that I purchase recordable CD media. I am enraged that the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) and the Copyright Board are considering raising the tariff from it's current rate, of which approximately 51% of the retail cost is tariff, to an outrageous 75% of the retail cost.

This will result in direct cost increases to the Canadian consumers from approximately $39 per 100 CD-R to over $60!

The existing tarrif wrongly assumes my CD-R purchases are used for the purposes of music recording, instead of data backup and archival purposes, resulting in benefit to an industry which I personally do not support or purchase from anymore in protest for their extreme position with regards to media shifting and artist compensation.

The proposed increased tariff adds insult to injury and will result in my immediate boycott of the CRIA as well as active and energetic opposition to re election of ministers who would support such blatent extortion.

I suggest all members consider the past history of the RIAA in the US as they have been convicted of "price fixing" in maintaining artificially high consumer prices for music over the last decade. Their Canadian equivalent (CRIA) should be investigated for similar activities.

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