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French Government May Subsidize Music Downloads

Posted by Soulskill on from the opening-a-new-front dept.

angry tapir writes "The European Commission has approved a French program to subsidize legal music downloads for young people. The Carte Musique scheme gives €25 (US$35) to French residents aged 12 to 25 to spend on music downloads or subscription services. Young people can purchase a €50 card for just €25, with the balance paid by the state."

7 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. I guess that means by halfEvilTech · · Score: 4, Interesting

    for the next 2 years while this is in effect, the online music services will be raising their prices to milk the system.

    They most likely won't but I wouldn't put it past those seeing this as a good money grab opportunity.

    1. Re:I guess that means by operagost · · Score: 3, Interesting

      for the next 2 years while this is in effect, the online music services will be raising their prices to milk the system.

      The French government is subsidizing entertainment for a select part of the population, and THIS is your concern?

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    2. Re:I guess that means by DavidTC · · Score: 3, Interesting
      No shit.

      Hey, let's give people a government-enforced ownership and monopoly over a thing, and then subsidize purchases of it.

      If you want to let people download for free, weaken copyright somehow, you idiots. Demand that to have a copyright, you have to give the government X free copies of it or something, and the government can give those out.

      This is just stupid.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  2. Fraud by dintech · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How many cards can I get and can I buy my own music with it from my own 'label'?

  3. Truly amazing by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 4, Interesting

    France has regular riots with minorities, an economy down the drain, one hell of a reputation with the deportation of Roma and now it gives a 200 million euro subsidy to the music industry?

    Just WTF?

    Is his wife payed for by the music lobby? And it still requires people that in the plan are claimed to be unwilling to pay for music, to pay for music. Just not so much. Once...

    And why does the state have to pay for this? Can't the music industry itself offer a discount action? Why must the average french taxpayer pay for 50% off for some kid for an American song with the money going abroad?

    This isn't even corruption anymore. It shows a level of detachment from reality in the French government that is closer to insanity. "Let them eat cake", at least showed an awareness that the issue was related to food. This proposal doesn't even grasp. "42, beezlebug for I am, bibble", Marie Antoinette was heard to say, just before her head came off. Insanity.

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  4. State aid? by Krakadoom · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How is that not illegal state aid under EU law? Because they dont target specific content providers? Sounds highly dubious.

  5. Wow... by Haedrian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Can the french government get any worse? First they implement the 3 strikes law.

    Now they will throw 25 million euros a year (according to their estimates) - in order to pay the music industry. Why not grab the 25 million and use them to build more parks, or reduce homelessness, or put into education?

    Answer: Because there aren't any 'homelessness lobbies'