Comments on: Spain Adds ‘Copyright Tax’ to Blank Media

By: Spaniards Demand Internet “Civil Rights”

Spaniards Demand Internet “Civil Rights” — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:23:14 +0000

[...] want an end to the “copyright tax” (digital canon) on devices that can copy music or movies, increased broadband access for [...]

By: soulxtc

soulxtc — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

WEIRD even printers? I though we pay a fee on blank media here in the US but after a little investigation this is what I found from good ol’ wikipedia:

17 USC 1008 bars copyright infringement action and 17 USC 1003 provides for a royalty of 3% of the initial transfer price. The royalty rate in Section 1004 was established by the Fairness in Music Licensing Act of 1998. This only applies to CDs which are labeled and sold for music use; they do not apply to blank computer CDs even though they can be (and often are) used to record or “burn” music from the computer to CD. A similar royalty applies to stand-alone CD recorders but not to CD burners used with computers. These royalties are probably why stand-alone CD recorders never achieved the same popularity as computer CD burners in the U.S.

Thanks to a precedent established in a 1998 lawsuit involving the Rio PMP300 player MP3 players are deemed “computer peripherals” and are not subject to a royalty of this type in the U.S.

By: zombiedepot

zombiedepot — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

That is bullshit. I will never pay royalties. Blank media has more legitmate use than they are considering. Linux family photos copies of cds I already own vb projects etc etc. This had better not come to the US.

By: Ne007

Ne007 — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

You do pay more for those “mp3″ cds…..but that is just for people who do not know that there is no difference between a “mp3″ cd and a normal cd.

By: anon001

anon001 — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

From what I understand we’ve had a similar practice in place for quite some time in Canada. The additional cost per disk/tape/etc. is negligible – no one complains about it. It also gives justification for minor copyright infringements we all commit like taping programs off of TV – we can argue we’ve legitimately paid for that right. ^_– I have no complaints about it. I actually think it’s a pretty good solution to worries about illegal copying. Much more friendly than embedded permissions and locking features in media files.

By: LymeM

LymeM — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

#4 is quite correct Canada has had a levy on blank media for 15+ years now. This levy is distributed to recording artists etc and NOT recording companies nor any version of the RIAA. It is a great way for a country to help foster artists from that country rather than multinational organizations. This law was also attacked by a so called group of the industry however this group turned out only to be four multinational music corporations while Canadian artists organized against them. At least Spain has the interests of it’s people in mind and not the recording industry or the lawyers they throw at people.

By: baronne

baronne — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

what our brains….? that’s blank media. If I start to whistle a tune or repeat a few lines from a film – do I need to cough up some cash?

By: theSirus

theSirus — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

What about personal uses of media ie anything where I am the coypright holder photos music office documents etc? Do I then get a refund under this Spanish law?

By: franjo kluz

franjo kluz — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

There are few simmilar ideas in Croatia. For now it’s just an idea but if I understand correctly they want to introduce tax for blank CDs DVDs MP3 palyers hard disks DVD recorders with hard disks etc…. Is there any other country where such a wide range of products is covered with these levies?

By: shawners

shawners — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I noticed for while that blank cd’s labled MP3 or music has a higher sales price then one that has Data written on it. Im sure they would or could tell the RIAA to f@ck off and make strictly cd’s labled DATA. RIAA gets money from blank cds that are labled music and blank tape cassettes.