Comments on: Japan Scraps Proposed iPod Tax http://www.j2fi.net/2008/07/12/japan-scraps-proposed-ipod-tax/ Yet Another Gaijin In Japan Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:18:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jason http://www.j2fi.net/2008/07/12/japan-scraps-proposed-ipod-tax/#comment-1470 Jason Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:12:20 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/07/12/japan-scraps-proposed-ipod-tax/#comment-1470 What really bothers me about piracy taxes is that there's no transparency in how the money is distributed. Does every artist get an equal share of the revenues? Will Supertramp get the same amount as The Beach Boys? Will they, in turn, get the same amount as 50 Cent, Dr. Dre or Elton John? What's the formula to determine if Norah Jones is getting her fair share? On that note, if only a few dollars is being added to digital players, and a few cents added to blank CDs, DVDs, MiniDiscs, and other recordable media, why the heck are we still being charged $30+ for a movie DVD and $18+ for a music CD? If companies like the RIAA and the MPAA can be appeased with a tiny one-time payment for a device that could be used to hold, distribute, copy and play any number of illegally obtained files, then why the heck are we still being price gauged at places like HMV and Tower Records? I agree that people should earn money for work they've done, but consumers are asked for a little too much blind faith in how these funds are actually being distributed :???: What really bothers me about piracy taxes is that there’s no transparency in how the money is distributed. Does every artist get an equal share of the revenues? Will Supertramp get the same amount as The Beach Boys? Will they, in turn, get the same amount as 50 Cent, Dr. Dre or Elton John? What’s the formula to determine if Norah Jones is getting her fair share?

On that note, if only a few dollars is being added to digital players, and a few cents added to blank CDs, DVDs, MiniDiscs, and other recordable media, why the heck are we still being charged $30+ for a movie DVD and $18+ for a music CD? If companies like the RIAA and the MPAA can be appeased with a tiny one-time payment for a device that could be used to hold, distribute, copy and play any number of illegally obtained files, then why the heck are we still being price gauged at places like HMV and Tower Records?

I agree that people should earn money for work they’ve done, but consumers are asked for a little too much blind faith in how these funds are actually being distributed :???:

]]> By: Nick http://www.j2fi.net/2008/07/12/japan-scraps-proposed-ipod-tax/#comment-1469 Nick Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:52:49 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/07/12/japan-scraps-proposed-ipod-tax/#comment-1469 Given the amount of people that acquire music illegally in that area, I think it's a stupid idea. However, given the amount of people that "supposedly" download music illegally in the US, it might be something understandable to implement as long as the money really goes to the artists and whatnot and doesn't just line the pockets of some politician, ceo, or agent. Just because I said it would be understandable though, doesn't think I would like or agree with it or think it should happen! Given the amount of people that acquire music illegally in that area, I think it’s a stupid idea. However, given the amount of people that “supposedly” download music illegally in the US, it might be something understandable to implement as long as the money really goes to the artists and whatnot and doesn’t just line the pockets of some politician, ceo, or agent. Just because I said it would be understandable though, doesn’t think I would like or agree with it or think it should happen!

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