Comments on: File sharing in Canada:

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 05 Jul 2004 21:47:33 +0000

I am happy that Canadians can stand up and say no to these gangsters in the music industry. It helps difine us as Canadians.
I AM CANADIAN! now lets get ride of those pot laws.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 05 Jul 2004 21:07:28 +0000

Stephen Harper owns an ipod, his wife regulary hooks him up with tunes. he’s big into AC/DC. I even asked my local conservative representative, who just barely won (i voted for her), about this issue, and she said the conservative party has no interest in ratifying any DMCA like treaties. it seems the liberals are on their own in this one.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:29:39 +0000

the gready music companies who pay artist little for their work have been ripping off the consumer for so long that they believe that it is their god given right. The nerve to go after every consumer who connects with the internet for a fee wither they are downloading music or pictures of grans birthday. This is one more proof that the Americans believe that everyone in the world must bow down to them and give them what ever they want. I say get stuffed , give the consumer and the artist a good product at a fair price and you would not have this problem. To think yourself so important that you believe (depending on the news release) that up to 50% of all traffic on the internet is someone ripping you off, get a life and get a honest job. Get your hands off my wallet you thiefs, the government does enough of that for all.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:13:08 +0000

Actually, in Canada, it is not stealing. That’s the whole point of the article and our laws.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 08:33:25 +0000

This is a slippery road as Belgians have been paying such a “copyright levy” for years and has been increased a couple of times since because they always want more…

Besides, how can one be sure that the moneys goes to artists and not to lawyers or other fees (i.e. big records co.)?

Andrei

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 07:15:55 +0000

You call it filesharing, I call it stealing.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 04:34:13 +0000

Quite right – Chalifour Scherrer or Scherrer. But a rose is still a rose, etc, and she’s no longer around to make life easy for the Big Five labels.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 03:54:11 +0000

they just dont get it.. the music industry versus millions of people, hundreds of thousands of which are hackers. lowering prices seems to be a foreign concept to them and they sure know how to make friends. keep downloading! cheers!

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 03:29:21 +0000

This quote confuses me “simply because some clients of those ISPs sometimes steal music by downloading”.

I was under the impression that current Canadian law states it simply is not illegal to download music over the internet. If that is the case why should we tolerate SOCAN referring to that act as “stealing”?

If it becomes illegal in this country to download music over the internet then I will stop. Only if one downloads music after such a law is written should they be labeled a thief. Until that time nobody is stealing anything and should not be vilified.

I should point out a few things,
1. Prior to music being available on the internet I purchased over 350 LPs, tapes and CDs. Many of the LPs and tapes I bought have since become unplayable, some CDs have skips in them now. I have spent the equivalent of $7000 on various versions of this music, much of which is no longer useable (due to the scratches, stretched tapes etc.). I am not going to spend another $7000 to replace it, I already bought it.
2. I haven’t bought a CD in over 4 years, and have only been downloading for about a month. So don’t suggest the internet is responsible for the drop in CD sales. If it becomes illegal to download music over the internet I will just go back to the radio…free music 24 hours a day.
3. I pay a levy on every CDR I purchase, I have never burned any downloaded music to a CD but I am paying as though I am. It could be better argued that you are in fact “stealing” from me.

Sorry, but the business model you are clinging so desperately to is extinct. Evolve or die out. The entertainment industry has been dragged kicking and screaming into profitable business by the technology sector for decades…just stop kicking…it will be fine and the artists will always be able to make living with their talent.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 00:26:01 +0000

Good Job Canada. I wish we in the USA still had a free government of the people and by the people but both the Democrates and the Republicans have been bought by the recording industry a long time ago and the RIAA is now collecting its dues from both parties.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 00:09:29 +0000

it’s peodfile or paedophile (depending on where your from) and that is already covered under criminal law – it’s not a copywrite issue.

I’m in the middle on this debate, I think artists should be compensated for their efforts …

As for any new laws being enacted by November covering copywrite law … lol good luck.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 23:11:06 +0000

Happily Canada’s federal heritage minister Helene Chalifour Scherrer was not r-eelected in the National Election last week.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 22:26:43 +0000

I’m in Vancouver too, and paid the levy a couple of months ago. A small price to pay though, cause now users can argue we aren’t ripping off artists but are fairly compensating them for the sweat of their brow. The record companies shot their load too soon in pushing for this levy–it may immunize against future extortion attempts.

A correction to the article, the defeated Minister of Heritage was Helene Chalifour Scherrer. She was usually referred to as Ms. Chalifour Scherrer or Ms. Scherrer.

Simon

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 21:09:23 +0000

Yesterday in Vancouver, I was asked to pay an extra $10.5 for a 50-pcs box of CDs as “levy for the musicians” at London Drugs… Is anyone aware of this levy?

The solution is to buy it w/o the levy at the Chinese-owned computer store, of course.

Rgds.

Andrei

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 09:30:52 +0000

Hea,,, forget the music sharing right now .Its great news to hear that our highest courts have steped in the right direction , maybe , probably , or might have , downloaded music is not a solid reason to provide the music industry authority to get info like they want ,, The only thing i will agree with is for isp providers to voluntary passover the information on the sick individuals (PEOTIFILES)who are praying on our childern over the internet and the ones who are offering child porn ,now if someone wants to do any good here well thats what we should be fighting for isn’t it.
the only ones who will speak against this motion are the peotifles themselves.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 08:27:23 +0000

Conservatives will definatly never support the music industries attempt to stop free file sharing. They are all about the freedom of the person. Thats why u saw all these same musician and music associations fear mongering with their stopharper campaign

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 08:16:49 +0000

Yeh – YAY, eh?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 07:29:11 +0000

I hope that the u.s. congress has been reading the Canadain Papers and can see which the Wind is Blowing!!!!!