That's where the second stage of the project comes it; all iPods, MP3 players, and computers will be loaded with software which will monitor what's on it, and, whenever you put new media files on them, will check their MD5 sums against a database of all works which you produced, and will retroactively charge you (with an adjustment for inflation) an additional levy on the cost of the device.
Or, alternatively, a chip will be added to all devices sold without the levy which will prevent them from playing media files of any sort, except those from known legal sources.
Impractical? Yes. But somewhere, there is a politician thinking about trying to do this.
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That's where the second stage of the project comes it; all iPods, MP3 players, and computers will be loaded with software which will monitor what's on it, and, whenever you put new media files on them, will check their MD5 sums against a database of all works which you produced, and will retroactively charge you (with an adjustment for inflation) an additional levy on the cost of the device. Or, alternatively, a chip will be added to all devices sold without the levy which will prevent them from playing media files of any sort, except those from known legal sources. Impractical? Yes. But somewhere, there is a politician thinking about trying to do this.