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Canadian Music Industry Wants Royalties on Net Usage

Posted by michael on from the greed-kills dept.

Dr. Zoidburg writes "Apparently Internet music and movie sharing in Canada has gained enough popularity to turn the heads of the music and movie industry. CTV has a report about a Canadian organization named SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada) that will "ask the Supreme Court of Canada next week to force Internet service providers to pay them royalties for the millions of digital music files downloaded each year by Canadians". Says the president of the Canadian Association of Internet Providers, "Consumers could very well see an increase in their Internet costs and they could see a slowdown in the transmission speed of their Internet communications"."

25 of 572 comments (clear)

  1. Whoooah by Space+cowboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    All of a sudden I *don't* want to be classed as an ISP any more (re: that story

    Simon.

    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!
  2. Finally by strike2867 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally Canadians get a taste of RIAA's medicine. Theyve had these freedoms for way too long.

    --

    Vote for new mod!!! Score:-2,Imbecile
  3. Or by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Sue
    Our
    Canadian
    Asses
    Northward

    Im sorry the coffee hasnt kicking in yet

  4. Re:SOCAN? by Takara · · Score: 5, Funny
    It's just an acronym. SOCAN is better than SCAMPC (Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada)

    Or how about STFU (SOCAN Takes money From end Users)

  5. Does SCO have an office in Canada by jkrise · · Score: 2, Funny

    Judging by this article, it looks like they do!

    --
    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  6. Argh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Friggin America, always trying to take away my rights! I'm moving to Canada!

    Oh wait...

  7. Re:Something to think about.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    • The DMCA is just gay ..
    As a raving faggot, I object to your use of the word 'gay' in this context.
  8. Re:SOCAN? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    SCAM PC? Sounds reasonably accurate to me...

  9. Re:Blame Canada by floydigus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Speaking as a non-Canadian, they should pay me for having to endure that Celine fucking Dion at all hours of the day and night.

    --

    All things in moderation; including moderation

  10. Re:Blame Canada by pacodease · · Score: 2, Funny

    Speaking as a Canadian, I apologise for inflicting both Celine Dion and Brian Adams on the world. Now, don't you have something to say about the Backstreet Boys and Barbra Streisand?

  11. Re:Something to think about.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I suggest you use the word "christian" in contexts where in the past you might have used "gay". Think "christian rock music" as compared to regular rock music and you'll see what I mean. Like getting into an over-21s bar with a fake ID and then drinking only lemonade ..... "Dude, that was totally christian!"

    Since christians are supposed to turn the other cheek, they can't even complain about this use. Unlike poofters, ginger beers and those who bat for the other team.

  12. Re:As a Canadian resident ... by Threni · · Score: 2, Funny

    >What's next? Royalties on showerheads, shower curtains and bathtubs in case we
    > happen to mumble out a tune while showering?

    Heh - you're a `Tom the dancing bug` fan too, eh?

    http://images.salon.com/comics/boll/2000/08/24/b ol l/story.gif

  13. no way! by doq · · Score: 3, Funny

    holy shit, canada has music?!

  14. I, for one,... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    welcome our music hoarding Canadian overlords. Once music sharing becomes legal in Canada, downloading it for free becomes legal for everyone in the US, but best of all, no bogus tax.

    Blame Canada, Blame Canada.

    Record sales are down,
    pirated mp3's abound.

    Blame Canada, Blame Canada.

    And sharing through proxies located in Canada. Genius! You guys might want to look into upgrading your infrastructure, you might need the extra bandwidth.

  15. *I* claim the right to tax the internet! by aug24 · · Score: 2, Funny
    I have reason to believe that works I have written (mostly slashdot comments) are being downloaded via the naughty interweb and therefore I should be allowed to levy a tax on everyone who ever, ever accesses it. Ever ever ever.

    Justin. But call me Darl.

    --
    You're only jealous cos the little penguins are talking to me.
  16. Re:Blame Canada by Scrameustache · · Score: 4, Funny

    Speaking as a non-Canadian, they should pay me for having to endure that Celine fucking Dion at all hours of the day and night.

    Hey, we had to endure her singing for YEARS before we finally convinced her to move away. She's your problem now...
    ;-)

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  17. I don't think he quite got it by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 3, Funny
    You see if you make it available for download then I presume you have an account with an ISP somewhere right? So the RIAA will tax you for that account and they will then send that money to proper artists not independent commies like you. Got it?

    The above was an attempt at humor

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  18. I think I speak for every Canadian... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I think I speak for every Canadian when I say:

    Take off, eh!

  19. Next proposed tax? by bobthemuse · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm waiting for the tax on all people with ears. Those people with ears are untrustworthy! They could be walking along one day and hear music created by starving artists just trying to get by. They should pay royalties to be able to listen to other people's music!

    1. Re:Next proposed tax? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Don't forget people with eyes as well. They might see some starving artists painting or short film and not pay as well. They should pay royalties to be able to see other people's art.

    2. Re:Next proposed tax? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hey, don't forget people with a sense of touch! They may even be blind and deaf, but they could still feel a poor starving sculptor's work and try to get by with not paying. I mean COME ON! They should pay royalties to feel other people's sculptures as well.

  20. Remember... by AyeRoxor! · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Consumers could very well see an increase in their Internet costs and they could see a slowdown in the transmission speed of their Internet communications."

    But remember, the law would be for your protection and to serve the interestes of the people, as all laws must do.

  21. Ya know... by NitroWolf · · Score: 2, Funny

    I realize that Canada is like... America's half brother, or just another American state. But damn, it feels good that some other country is making or propsing idiotic laws.

    I don't feel so isolated now, even if it is just a illusion.

    Don't spoil my fantasies. Shush.

  22. Re:we already pay through the nose REVESE SMUGGLIN by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 2, Funny
    We already pay $0.25 per cd-r, "they" want to increase it to around $0.59.

    The Answer:

    Reverse smuggling. Send USA CD-R's and cigarettes north in trade for cheaper Canadian drugs. The free market works.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  23. No, no, no by rockabilly · · Score: 2, Funny

    You've got it all wrong. It simply fills in the sentence:

    If the RIAA can get money, SOCAN we.