11–20 of 112 posts
What is "lost profits" anyway? Is that like "jobs saved"?
I hope the RIAA isn't paying attention.
EDIT: I was wrong. Your diatribes would be much more effective if they either had a bit more research behind them or did not succumb to poe's law. - saulrh Good critique, thanks. - http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poes_Law
German native speaker here. Sadly the basic facts of the article are correct. There is a levy on different media and also on machines capable of copying content (yes, there is a levy on computers in Germany). The height of the levy is negotiated with the producers of the product, represented by Bitcom, and the respective "Verwertungsgesellschaft" which in this case is the ZPÜ. The "Verwertungsgesellschaft" negotiatin…
Most of the people in Germany don't seem to be aware of the situation, simply not knowing that there is such a levy. Most of them also don't even know that they are allowed to make private copies (aka Privatkopie), and fall for the 'U r all pirates' propaganda of the content industry.
Friends are often astonished when they joke about pirating while we swap music and when I subsequently tell them, that what we are doing is absolutely legal.
Those tech savy of us who are aware about the situation are massively annoyed. Basically because THEY are taking our money as compensation for the Privatkopie while spreading propaganda that copying is illegal. WITH THE MONEY WE GAVE THEM.
Head of the ministry of justice, Mrs Leutheuser-Schnarrenberger, recently made a move and suggested a reform of the Urheberrecht and copyright in Germany (http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Justizministerin-fuer...)
While she is member of the dreaded neoliberal FDP, she is actually one of the very few politicians acting in favour of the developing information society. For example she is taking a stance against the EU data retention laws (Vorratsdatenspeicherung).
PS: whishing the term "Privatkopie" would become part of the english spoken world just like "Zeitgeist", "Gestalt" or "Kindergarten".
Those affected and who complained a lot were of course businesses who sell these things. But apparently they were forced into accepting the new taxation.
As a Swede I'm directly affected by that Germany now implemented this slave tax, due to I figured I could import products from Germany instead of buying them in Sweden.
What this seems to imply is that those in power seem to plan this in the EU behind scenes. Keeping it from public as much as possible and using the you are all pirates as an excuse for the extra taxation.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
German native speaker here. Sadly the basic facts of the article are correct. There is a levy on different media and also on machines capable of copying content (yes, there is a levy on computers in Germany). The height of the levy is negotiated with the producers of the product, represented by Bitcom, and the respective "Verwertungsgesellschaft" which in this case is the ZPÜ. The "Verwertungsgesellschaft" negotiatin…
Personal comment: Most of the people in Germany don't seem to be aware of the situation, simply not knowing that there is such a levy. Most of them also don't even know that they are allowed to make private copies (aka Privatkopie), and fall for the 'U r all pirates' propaganda of the content industry. Friends are often astonished when they joke about pirating while we swap music and when I subsequently tell them, th…
I'm quite interested in what happens in Germany with second hand computers. Many computers end up in recycling or landfill when they could be used for some further time. Do the small computer shops/people on ebay still have to pay a levy? Is the levy a percentage of the asking price or a flat fee like the original article points out is the case for media?
So instead of adapting to music streaming, the German music industry has developed a new business plan: demand compensation from the government for "lost profits" due to piracy. What is "lost profits" anyway? Is that like "jobs saved"? I hope the RIAA isn't paying attention.
Personally, I'm thorn: if this would mean the MAFIAA boys drop their guns forever, I'd be almost happy to have it. Unfortunately, they'd never do that, they'd just keep gunning on top of collecting their racket money.
Their government is giving them carte blanche.
terrible link bait by the techdirt junk site. flagged, see below for my explanation. it is not a piracy tax. Germans have a right to copy stuff for their close friends. that's not piracy but a lawful right. that the fee is outrageous is another issue.
That's piracy tax. Other countries have this. It's called "fair use". In general, and in fact I sort of believe it is also that way in Germany, not a law that allow you to copy stuff to your close friends. It allows you to make copies for yourself (backups, etc), and to view/listen to those copies or the original with your family. NOT giving or copying it to them. Anyway, since you're letting your family view/listen,…
you also use the much beloved "losing money" line.
fair use is a fantastic, culture promoting idea.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
German native speaker here. Sadly the basic facts of the article are correct. There is a levy on different media and also on machines capable of copying content (yes, there is a levy on computers in Germany). The height of the levy is negotiated with the producers of the product, represented by Bitcom, and the respective "Verwertungsgesellschaft" which in this case is the ZPÜ. The "Verwertungsgesellschaft" negotiatin…
Personal comment: Most of the people in Germany don't seem to be aware of the situation, simply not knowing that there is such a levy. Most of them also don't even know that they are allowed to make private copies (aka Privatkopie), and fall for the 'U r all pirates' propaganda of the content industry. Friends are often astonished when they joke about pirating while we swap music and when I subsequently tell them, th…
I really "like" (sarcasm) the levy on smartphones. This one is 36 Euros. Sad, but true. The problem with these "taxes" is, that the "Verwertungsgesellschaften" give the money to artists or labels but there the big fishes do profit most.
But the lobbying argument is, that all artists strife, because of these "taxes".