Comments on: p2pnet talks to Michael Geist

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 20:33:29 +0000

I personally can’t remember ever buying a CD-R for burning music, yet every time I did/do the music industry skimms off it. But if policy makers can’t put up a fight against cartels who’s profits exceed many countries GDP, I’ll take the levy over restrictions and seeing fellow Canadians ruined by lawsuits.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 19:21:14 +0000

The copyright levy is collected by a group representing the recording industry.The CPCC began making payments early in 2003.

http://www.cpcc.ca/english/generalInfo.htm

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 07:58:02 +0000

Given Ms. Bulte’s performance in the recent election, it appears that she must have acquired her familiarity with the law at the Outhousie Law School.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 07:27:20 +0000

“Does anyone know how the money collected is distributed among the creators? Or does the money only go to the copyright cartels?”

Last I’ve heard that hadn’t distributed a single cent of the money collected. If they ever do, of course it will get handed over to the publishing cartels rather than to artists.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 05:13:59 +0000

I haven’t seen any polls about what “most Canadians” feel about the levy, but I’d appreciate any references. There might also be a matter of context here. I’m not exactly “fond” of the levy either, but considering that it is the means by which I have the legal right to download songs under the Copyright Act, I’ll take it. It’s the lesser of many evils. It might not be perfect, but I have yet to see a perfect system proposed.

Artists should be compensated for their work, but they (or especially the recording companies) should not have such powerful rights to hinder normal usage and undermine new and useful technologies for the sake of personal profit. Copyright laws exist for the purpose of promoting progress, not personal profit.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 23:19:06 +0000

Actually it should be seen as a compliment. I believe that Geist would be the first to admit that controversy and debate are vital. And I believe he would also have no issues with personal criticism. That is the hallmark of a good academic.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 23:17:02 +0000

geist is a stand-up Canadian who unlike most of our politicians has world respect

ignore trolls and shills

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 23:08:48 +0000

This begs the question, who the hell are these individuals bashing one of the few defenders of the people anyways?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 23:00:14 +0000

Huh, whomever said he was for it? As posted above, most Canadians aware of this hidden tax/levy/cartel extortion are not fond of it.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 21:35:31 +0000

Actually, if you look at Dr. Geist’s previous postings you will find that he is one of the most adamant people against the private copying levy:

http://michaelgeist.ca/component/option,com_content/task,view/id,1126/Itemid,85/
http://michaelgeist.ca/component/option,com_content/task,view/id,1157/Itemid,85/

And there are more from where that came from.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 17:23:48 +0000

“No industry should be allowed to generate revenue without even selling a product, and thats just what these levy’s are.”

Does anyone know how the money collected is distributed among the creators? Or does the money only go to the copyright cartels?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 12:15:14 +0000

I believe that Dr. Geist attended Dalhousie Law School, not Dalhouse Law School. I’d be pleased to buy him dinner at McKelvie’s on Lower Water Street the next time we were both in Halifax.

–TG

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 08:46:48 +0000

Yeah I agree Michael is biast - he’s representing vested interests - OURS - pity the content industry cant remember its consumers, pity they cant remember that copyright was never meant to be an absolute property right, pity they cant think of the benefits of a free culture, pity they cant think of anything but $hareholder$ and pity they dont run their own public comments website - imagine them having to deal with 250 million trolls…. at least we only have to deal with the occassional dill on this site

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 06:34:19 +0000

Most Canadians aware of this levy (its been around so long) aren’t particularly fond of it either. This, however, goes to show the bottomless pit of greed these cartels are capable of. They’ve been skimming money from blank media sales for decades and still that’s not enough.

But frankly, between a levy and seeing a downright assault on liberties (read DMCA) as has happened to our friends south of the border, I’ll continue chipping in my $0.20 per CD/DVD if prevents it happening here.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 05:32:07 +0000

I wish all policy makers around the world shared michael’s fair and unbiased stance on these issues.

However, i don’t really agree with canada’s levy. No industry should be allowed to generate revenue without even selling a product, and thats just what these levy’s are.

If the cartels had it their way, you would be taxed on everything, cpu/hardrives/cdroms/breathing. Ok the last one was exaggerating, but in all seriousness, soon they wont need to sell any products because they will earn money just by sitting around collecting taxes/levys.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 04:04:25 +0000

Excellent insight, thanks for this interview. Michael Geist is one of the few academics stepping up to the plate on copyright issues and I THANK HIM for it. One only needs to look at the situation in the USA to understand what happens when BIG money and BIG lobbying takes control of policy.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 04:03:34 +0000

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 02:34:29 +0000

Michael Geist is also one of the most one-eyed writers at times, pretty much like what is churned out here on a regular basis. I can agree with him at times and at other times I think that his personal bias really screws with his logic. Pity.