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European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

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11–20 of 76 posts

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#11
post #9

Seizing on the opportunity to use this supranational directive to overturn a democratically-enacted law The directive exists pursuant to action of the European Parliament* which is also a democratic institution, as someone with Jeremy Malcolm's outstanding education is surely aware. * http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:... I'm not expressing an opinion on the merits of European copyright law;…

[deleted]

Arguably so, but the European Parliament is nevertheless a democratically elected institution. The size of MEP's electoral districts is typically smaller than US Congressional districts and nobody questions whether the House of Representatives is a democratic body. You don't have to approve of how it works to acknowledge this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apportionment_in_the_European_...

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#12
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it not accurate? Portraying the democratically elected EU as 'undemocratic' because it is in contrast to a national government suggest to me that the source of the misrepresentation is due to them not being English (in this case). That, and a very long track record of such sentiments being aired by those who are more transparently xenophobic. I don't see how it is ridiculous.

The EFF has a "very long track record" of being xenophobic? Well, now I've heard it all.

That's not what the parent post says; reread it.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#13

Seizing on the opportunity to use this supranational directive to overturn a democratically-enacted law The directive exists pursuant to action of the European Parliament* which is also a democratic institution, as someone with Jeremy Malcolm's outstanding education is surely aware. * http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:... I'm not expressing an opinion on the merits of European copyright law;…

Well, I'm from Europe and I don't like most of the things that come out of Brussels. In fact, when polls are made it would seem majority share my view. Maybe then 'undemocratic' is not such a bad name for it?

It's tons of bureaucracy with very little democracy.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#14
post #4

Good old greed. The speed CDs and the music industry is disappearing probably will solve this issue going forward. Music is getting more and more fragmented and smaller and smaller styles show up that are very specific to a particular location. This will help to dismantle the music industry lobby probably.

I hear this argument very often but I don't see any strong evidence that it is happening in the majority case, nor will happen. The music/entertainment industries have been relatively slow to react to digitisation, the internet and technological advances, but their lobbying prowess is frightening. Just look at their power and handywork at the national level instigating ridiculous and oppressive laws and at the international level at the trade agreements being instigated. Just like in the linked article.

I do agree that small scale/localised success - the long tail as it used to be referred to - is a positive force too. It looks like we all just have to learn to live with both camps (and many more besides) being given scope to thrive. Hopefully that's the best outcome, but this type of out of touch and obtuse legislation is not helping.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#15

    > THE QUEEN on the application of
    > (1) BRITISH ACADEMY OF SONGWRITERS, COMPOSERS AND AUTHORS
    > (2) MUSICIANS’ UNION
    > (3) UK MUSIC 2009 LIMITED
Perhaps, as a token of defiance, we should compile a list of the people at the top of these organisations, and forbid them from using our software.

There's a time and a place for spite, and this is it.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#16
post #13

Seizing on the opportunity to use this supranational directive to overturn a democratically-enacted law The directive exists pursuant to action of the European Parliament* which is also a democratic institution, as someone with Jeremy Malcolm's outstanding education is surely aware. * http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:... I'm not expressing an opinion on the merits of European copyright law;…

Well, I'm from Europe and I don't like most of the things that come out of Brussels. In fact, when polls are made it would seem majority share my view. Maybe then 'undemocratic' is not such a bad name for it? It's tons of bureaucracy with very little democracy.

[deleted]

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#17
post #4

Good old greed. The speed CDs and the music industry is disappearing probably will solve this issue going forward. Music is getting more and more fragmented and smaller and smaller styles show up that are very specific to a particular location. This will help to dismantle the music industry lobby probably.

I hear this argument very often but I don't see any strong evidence that it is happening in the majority case, nor will happen. The music/entertainment industries have been relatively slow to react to digitisation, the internet and technological advances, but their lobbying prowess is frightening. Just look at their power and handywork at the national level instigating ridiculous and oppressive laws and at the intern…

"In early 2015, Bandcamp released an announcement that artists using the website had officially gotten $100 million in total from music sale"

Total music industry is 15B (afaik). It is 1/150th of the entire music industry and that is just one site. I think the artist make more on Bandcamp and other music distribution platforms than on big labels, that might be the reason why Bandcamp is greatly successful.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#18
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it not accurate? Portraying the democratically elected EU as 'undemocratic' because it is in contrast to a national government suggest to me that the source of the misrepresentation is due to them not being English (in this case). That, and a very long track record of such sentiments being aired by those who are more transparently xenophobic. I don't see how it is ridiculous.

The EFF has a "very long track record" of being xenophobic? Well, now I've heard it all.

Unfortunately what you're hearing appears to be in your head. I didn't say that, nor do I think it is true. Please discuss in good faith.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#19
This is just UK. I dont think it will fly in Spain, Czech rep or other parts of EU.

For start there is author tax to compensate authors for fair use, it is collected as VAT on empty mediums and printers. With this law many powerful people would loose money. I would welcome it, since it means cheaper hardware.

And secondly: YES! More stupid laws like this, more DRM and people will turn to free music under Creative-Commons like license.

Re: European Court Strikes Down Law Allowing Users to Rip Their Own CDs

#20
European Copyright legislative is an inconsistent mess.

Right now, in Austria, the government is up to demand 6% of the price of any digital storage device, to compensate copyright holders when the legit consumers of their work execute their right to make a private copy.

So the European Court apparently just has settled that in one country of the EU, consumers do not have the right to make private copies, while in others consumers just got a new tax to do so. AFAIK the Austrian model follows German legislative.

What a mess.

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