[karen]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/xta-...umn/45225.html

By the prickling of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes! If you're reading this, and you live in Canada, this will put you in a bad mood.

As the person who brought this to Jason's attention, I'd like to update you on some other major players who will be voicing oppostion to this levy:

- the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS -www.cips.ca)
- the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC www.itac.ca)
- the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA)

Unfortunately, to be an official objector costs around $400,000 CDN, as one must hirer professional help (lawyers) to participate in the process. Neither ITAC nor CIPS have those sorts of resources. That's why it is SO important for individuals to voice their opinions on this unjust levy.

Also, there are some online petitions that every Canadian here should sign. Here's one:

- http://www.sycorp.com/levy/

However, read, dead tree letters will carry the most weight. Please take the time to write as many letters as you can.

[karen]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/xta-...umn/45225.html

By the prickling of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes! If you're reading this, and you live in Canada, this will put you in a bad mood.

As the person who brought this to Jason's attention, I'd like to update you on some other major players who will be voicing oppostion to this levy:

- the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS -www.cips.ca)
- the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC www.itac.ca)
- the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA)

Unfortunately, to be an official objector costs around $400,000 CDN, as one must hirer professional help (lawyers) to participate in the process. Neither ITAC nor CIPS have those sorts of resources. That's why it is SO important for individuals to voice their opinions on this unjust levy.

Also, there are some online petitions that every Canadian here should sign. Here's one:

- http://www.sycorp.com/levy/

However, read, dead tree letters will carry the most weight. Please take the time to write as many letters as you can.

[karen]

It's important that any communication that opposes these increased levies focus on the fact that this levy shouldn't be so high for media that has more uses that just music pirating. The copyright board has already approved the levies. What is still to be decided is the amount of levy on each type of media.

Opinions that just oppose any levy will for the most part be ignored. The right to impose the levy is already a done deal. A strong opposition for the amount of the levies is what is needed today.

Even though I believe that this levy unjustly benefits the recording industry, it's important to focus on the type of input the board and the CCPC is wanting right now - how much should be charged for each media type.

[karen]

As a Canadian resident who uses recordable media for backup, storage of intellectual property that I own, transferring files to other devices, storage of data and applications, and other legal, non-music copying, I oppose the proposed increase in levies on media that DOES NOT have a primary purpose of music copying.

This increase in levy should not be thrust upon law-abiding Canadians, nor should the CCPC be allowed to collect this increase instead of moving the cost of legal and illegal copying onto its own product. By implementing this increase on media used primarily for other reasons, the music industry is allowed to artifically support lower prices on their products by moving the burden onto products that aren't primarily used for anything related to their business. This is wrong, very wrong and sets a terrible precendent for other such schemes.

What's next? A levy on my laptop hard drive? A levy on my printer because someone, somewhere uses it to make copies of other's material?

This increased levy, which can inflate the price of some media by 100%, is unjust and assumes a use of this media that I don't use it for. It is unfair and anti-Canadian for the Board to pursue this cash grab by the recording industry.

The recording industry needs to find a solution to their financial problems that doesn't involve 'taxing' legitimate non-music uses.

Karen

[DrtyBlvd]

:?:

Bit of a 'left wing' thought (No pun intended), but will everyone who is able not just shop somewhere that the taxes are not applied? I know Inet transactions across border are supposed to be taxed, if applicable, but even here in the good old tax centre of the world (IMHO of course :evil: ) I can receive tax free very easily?

And, more to the point, with people who do actually use their media for such copyright infringement purposes, is the industry not still going to be losing a shed load? I am a cynic at heart and believe it all to do with the policies of politics ultimately - will taxes raise on the media industry somewhere in the future?

We are in the process of being stung, and I mean BADLY, by the new car tax laws - not something that applies to the US and Canada I believe, or not as much anyway, on account of the majority of individuals here having cars as company benefits - in essence the tax rate is set on the emissions of the cars, based then upon the new list price - don't quote me but I seem to remember seeing somewhere that a £50K (~$75K) car with high emissions meant a tax liability of somewhere around the £18K (~$27K) mark - 8O

Pennies on CDRs put into perpspective? Maybe, maybe.