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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."

1 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. download with no guilt by Jeek+Elemental · · Score: 0, Troll

    The music industry has profited immensely from the basic human need to share with others.
    Targeting teenagers who have no defense at all is the basic business model, turning them into sales representatives for the label on a massive scale.
    It worked extremely well when copies were poor quality, basically acting as a teaser, produced at no cost to the label.

    Now they have this terrible dilemma, how to exploit the same weakness when copies are bit perfect?
    Well you cant, not without perverting the internet itself. A free internet is not compatible with that business model.

    So if you find yourself tearing up over the plight of the music "industry", you should support packet inspection, 3 strikes, censorship etc.
    You better have a copyright lawyer on standby, because there are countless ways you can infringe, without even knowing!

    If on the other hand you think the internet is too important to twist to serve 1 slimy group of people (I guess it shines through where I stand), then you should not let the music lobby affect the internet or anything you do. Do not give them more money!

    There have been music for quite a few centuries now, I doubt there will be silence, maybe a few less billionaire musicians.