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Why Only Music?

Posted by michael on from the don't-try-to-use-logic-against-me dept.

The Importance of writes "Last week, Slashdot readers provided a number of answers to the question "What is Music?" in the context of compulsory licensing. Now LawMeme asks another question about compulsory licenses: Why Only Music? Many compulsory licensing schemes have been proposed to cover music alone, but most of the arguments in favor of a compulsory license for music apply equally as well to other media types. Millions share movies, P2P can't be stopped, the MPAA hasn't provided legitimate alternatives for what consumers want, etc. If music should have a compulsory license, why shouldn't movies, software, ebooks and other media also be covered by compulsory licenses?"

3 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. The moment.... by Kedisar · · Score: 5, Funny

    I open up a brand new paperback and see a EULA, is the moment I destroy the human race. =/

  2. How can this be lega.? by Hugh+George+Asm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It'd ludicrous to think of paying in advance a "tax" to the RIAA for blank media because we might use it to copy their music. Applying that logic to other areas, why not stipulate brief jailtime for anyone buying a knife, because they might use it to kill somebody?

  3. I don't want the responsibility of music by tuckerclerico · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's suddenly occurred to me that I no longer want the responsibility of music.

    I like listening to music, but I don't want to worry about whether or not I'm legally allowed to rip it for myself.

    I don't want to worry whether or not I'll have to disable autoplay in order to rip a CD. I don't want to worry whether or not I'm violating the DMCA if I say something, do something, or copy something.

    I don't want to have to worry about whether or not the RIAA will come busting into my house because I've downloaded -- apparently -- legal MP3s from emusic.com. I don't want to worry whether or not they'll think they're illegal.

    Art and enjoyment aren't supposed to be like this. I can go into a library, check out a book, read it, and return it. I can pick up a magazine, read it, put it back on the table.

    I can go into coffee shop, read a paper, leave it on the table, and not worry about whether or not (a) my privacy has been compromised and (b) I'm doing something illegal. I can just go and do it.

    Music is just not worth it. It's become larger than itself and owning it -- using it -- has become too much of a responsibility. I don't want to break the law, but I probably have. But I don't want to deal with worrying about whether or not I might have broken the law. I just want to listen to it. I could give a shit about DRM and licensing.

    It's too much responsibility. I give up. The RIAA wins. I won't buy any more or listen to anymore.

    There. You happy now, Craig? Hilary, you happy? Jack, maybe you wanna chime in about movies, too?

    Go ahead.