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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 ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Where do you get that they most likely won't? I probably won't be double, but an extra 50% increse is predictable.

      Normally I'm a moderately liberal individual, and am for the government helping the people, but this is asinine. This is a luxury, not a necessity. This is promoting a specific business model that should survive or fail on it's own merits, not on some kind of corporate welfare.

      W.T.A.F.?

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    2. Re:I guess that means by andrea.sartori · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not really. If you were a teenager, you would gladly spend your 25, buy 50 worth of music, and when the card is depleted you would go back to downloading illegally.

      --
      Mostly harmless.
  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.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

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

  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. Re:I guess the French outdid themselves again. by hedwards · · Score: 4, Insightful

    More like fascism, this is just a form of corporate welfare. The industry couldn't figure out how to deal with piracy so now the government is subsidizing their products.

    Ultimately it won't work, I doubt very much that this will really convince people to stop pirating. And on the unlikely event that it works, the question really is why does the French government need to provide a subsidy to what was apparently an issue of supply and demand.

    By all means crack down on those that are distributing the copies, but that's the responsibility of the recording industry, not the government.