Australians to pay tax on Blank Media/Digital Music Players

[Roundabout]

PROPOSED MUSIC COPYRIGHT CHANGE TO BENEFIT CONSUMERS & CREATORS

Blank Recordable Media & Digital Music Player Levy Trade-off for Consumer Copies

On June 9, AustralAsian Music Industry Directory publisher Phil Tripp—often referred to as a music business analyst by media—independently submitted a proposal to a broad range of music industry associations to support a change to the Copyright Act. This would allow consumers to legally copy their purchased music for personal use only and also compensate recording artists & songwriters through implementation of a blank media and digital music player levy system.

The proposal asks support at Board level for this scheme to be submitted to the Federal Government by organizations including Association of Independent Record Labels (AIR), Music Managers Forum (MMF), Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA), Musicians Union, Music Council of Australia (MCA), Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP), Community Broadcasters Association (CBAA), songwriter associations, state-based music peak bodies & genre based organisations (folk, country, jazz, Christian, etc.) Replies will be passed on to relevant Ministers & government departments.

“It’s time consumers are legally granted the right to make personal copies of music for backup of original CDs, making their own personal CD or digital music player compilations, making tapes for their car or recording songs from older vinyl albums—all of which are presently prohibited under the law.” Tripp explains. “They can’t play CDs on a computer to transfer them to iPod, other digital music players, recordable CDs, DVDs or cassette. It requires a Copyright Act change to finally make this legal.”

Complete article here.

[Nilfennasion]

Oh come on!!!

Newsflash: Australians are already paying taxes in Australia on blank media! Probably multiple taxes. Enough to double the price, in all likelihood. I'd like to see one other country where the minimum hourly wage is $10, the price of a milkshake at Donut King is $3.50 (and goes up 50c every year), and the price of a 5-pack of DVD+Rs is $23.

Australians already bleeding to death from taxes on fast food, taxes on food in general, taxes on literacy, and taxes on having a home. The scenario in Total Recall, a tax on breathing, would not surprise most Australians if it were to eventuate here.

I can't wait until I am published and out of Australia. Just about everyone who has become famous and wealthy has left the place shortly thereafter, and yet they pour ridicule on those who are blunt about why. Wake up, Australia.

[Mr anderson]

funny, my dad is flying over there tomorrow night and staying with family out there, but they can just import? or would they still pay?

[RottenFoxBreath]

once again,the "industry" are trying to shaft the aussies.

[RJJ]

funny, my dad is flying over there tomorrow night and staying with family out there, but they can just import? or would they still pay?

If an import is over a few hundred AUS$ customs may feel nasty and will impose a GST (10%) and other import taxes, storage costs etc on the purchase cost before they will let you have it (they may not even tell you that they have it).


I have a friend who got married in New Zealand and then came back to Aust where they were living. Because the gifts were all new the ******* charged these poor students import duties before they would let them have their wedding gifts back.

[Gillies]

“It’s time consumers are legally granted the right to make personal copies of music for backup of original CDs, making their own personal CD or digital music player compilations, making tapes for their car or recording songs from older vinyl albums—all of which are presently prohibited under the law.” Tripp explains. “They can’t play CDs on a computer to transfer them to iPod, other digital music players, recordable CDs, DVDs or cassette. It requires a Copyright Act change to finally make this legal.”

what's this guy talking about? consumers are legally allowed to make personal copies of CDs. But i agree, this proposal is ridiculous. i swear, the music industry have lost their minds. They think they deserve everything and owe nothing... FYI, did u know most artists receive only appox. $1-$2 per album sold? the rest goes to the record label, the manufacturer and others. bugger 'em.

[Roundabout]

what's this guy talking about?

Since it appears to be something that I added to the topic, I want to be clear, that's not me talking there

I don't want anyone thinking it's my opinion... it's part of the article that I quoted there and not my words. Just making sure. :P

[Gillies]

yeah :P understand that mate

[Nilfennasion]

once again,the "industry" are trying to shaft the aussies.

Indeed. Australia has been the favourite flogging-boy of just about every kind of distribution network since their existence. Doesn't matter if it is music, film, literature, or even children's toys. If you live in Australia, you can expect to pay three times as much as you should for it. And that is in capital cities where there is some semblance of competition. If you live in a town like the one I am stuck in right now, you might as well drop all pretense, bend over, and grab your ankles every time you go to the check-out.

And people wonder why I get mortally offended at being called Australian.