Posts by Don Christie

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  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Rob

    Eg: it seems morally questionable to tax everyone (including Mark) for copyright infringements they personally ain't indulging in. If we tax it, aren't we telling the people who don't do it- it's ok, you're paying for it- go ahead?

    Where were you when they collected taxes on blank cassettes, VHS tapes, photocopiers etc. and...the TV licence? Some people without children still pay taxes that go towards other folks childrens' school, so a precedent does exist.

    I agree, though, it is reprehensible. I am looking for something less reprehensible than the current legislation.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Hard News: Lucinda Williams made me cry,

    From DHC

    I never realised I was supposed to choose which camp I belonged in. I thought I was just a journalist.

    About time, Deborah. Unfortunately not all journalists share that view, yet.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Hi Mark

    Ok given this:

    I would go further and say that the Internet has been the best thing that has ever happened to music.

    let's agree to try not to break it whilst we are attempting to funnel funds to needy musicians. Whilst *you* might not be advocating cutting off grannies connection, that is exactly what the new(ish) legislation allows. And remember musicians and there representatives aren't the only Copyright holders our there, the software industry is much meaner than you guys and I shudder at the power you are placing on our hands. If you give me the ring of power...

    I also think you are chasing the wrong targets with ISPs simply because they dare to offer off-peak rates. This has been a long established MO for telcos and other utility organisations who attempt to spread the peeks and troughs of usage.

    However, I am very sympathetic to the idea that the artistic side of our culture should have broad support. I thought the last Government made fairly good use of our taxpayer $$s on that front.

    But, let's also agree that the Internet is treating this group unfairly because it is so easy to breach their Copyright.Iin that case let's place a tax on Internet usage (which is essentially what the RIAA is asking). However, instead of that tax going directly to recording organisations it will go to the Government. A certain %tage will be used to support the role out of a decent infrastructure and the rest to compensating 'victims' of Copyright infringement.

    I think under this model the Indies stand a far better chance of seeing $$s and you don't put at risk the business model of independent ISPs, which NZ also desperately needs. This does not stop you reaching deals with Google et al if you are able to do so.

    In return I would ask that the music and movie industries in NZ quit their constant campaign to make Copyright law more and more strict. It really is time to call a halt to the 'Micky Mouse' approach to Copyright which benefits no-one other than some very rich mega corps who already have enough of a stranglehold on supply.

    Sound reasonable?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Mark, the middle ground is hard to find when so much hype and mis-information is being thrown around by the likes of the BSA and RIAA. I think a start would be some acknowledgement that:

    1. The Internet has, on balance, been a good thing for the music (and software) industry.

    2. That our kids are *not* supporting drug dealers, the slave trade and arms dealers when they watch something on youtube or share an mp3.

    3. Admit that this is a battle between some mega corps for control of supply, or at least control of ticket clipping.

    To explain 3 further, the way I see it is that the recording industry wants ISPs and the likes of Google/Amazon to pay it even more money. The latter group want to reduce their liability (obviously).

    Once we have things laid out like that then maybe we can get a sensible approach to all this topic. Right now Copyright infringement is being used as the big stick to curtail some pretty basic civil liberties that we have gained over the last 2 or 3 hundred years. That's unacceptable.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    oh, right, it's the laws fault that you're breaking the law.

    Sometimes, yes. And with the changes that have been forced through in the last couple of years doubly yes. In fact, Shane Jones admitted this in the select committee.

    Sony et al were quite happily flogging MP3 players over the last few years in full knowledge that the folks buying the things *had* to break NZ law and Sony's own Copyright in order to use them.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Hi Mark (Kneebone that is). Some good points there, thanks.

    The question to me is how does that value balance against the value of owning a website that you sell advertising on when none of the copyright is yours (and in the vast majority of cases you have no rights to).

    I thought that had been resolved. Google is dolling out money now. I expect they always expected to do so.

    How *not* to make money is to lobby for intrusive and chilling legislation that turns clients into criminals and that has side effects that go way beyond the gains the recording industry hope to make. Something Copyright holders of many ilk have been doing for far too long.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    Film and television are also staring this in the face, and books may well be too.

    And software developers. Don't forget us. Sorry, it's all our fault. If only we hadn't coded up the pesky internet thing.

    Some technologists even sound like the RIAA.

    But Rob, Keir et al. There is money to be made out of 'Free' if that's what you want to do. It works for some people and not for others. Strangely, life hasn't changed in that respect.

    Islander

    how do you make sure of your revenue streams?

    There's going to be control/lers taking way bigger bites than yer average agent et al

    Maybe. But maybe it is also a way of reaching audiences and customers more directly.

    Paulo Coelho may not be on your must read list but he has an interesting take on Pirate Bay (Hat tip to someone else) and encouraging the pirating of his own works.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Hard News: Of Monsters and Old Boys,

    I don't believe that the decile-10 schools actually provide a better education or have better teachers. They firstly have more tractable, easier-to-teach kids and secondly, enable their graduates to gain entry to an old-boy network.

    Is there a way of comparing schools in the same deciles (literacy & numeracy datasets)?

    Whilst I might not support the complete removal of the private sector I would support the removal of *all* state funding for that sector including religious schools.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    You and Don can argue all you like about how fair and balanced you all are but looking at your list it looks decidedly skewed.

    Still channelling Ant, robbery? Let him speak for himself will you, he does a far better job of it.

    This wasn't a media show where flat earthers are invited to balance the views of those who believe we live on a sphere.

    It was a discussion about Copyright. There were lots of sides. Things are far more nuanced than you seem to understand and many views to reconcile. Which means that all attendees will be, at some stage or another, in a minority. However, no-one was in a minority of 1.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Speaker: Copyright Must Change,

    robbery,

    I haven't called Ant Healey a liar, you just did. If Ant has issues to discuss about the meeting he can do so directly with me rather than through a pseudonymous mouthpiece.

    My email address is on the LHS and my contact details are very public. There are lots of people that would like to engage positively with APRA, these include the NZOSS and CFF.

    Russell, the *only* reason I responded to robbery's original post on this topic was because he put forward an inaccurate 3rd hand report of quite an important meeting that a lot of people thought was worth attending and contributing to.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

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