[pp.int.general] levies consultation

[Andrew Norton]

Ok, heads up, 3rd round is starting on this - its a public hearing in
brussles, May 27th

Anyone able to go on our behalf?

more details on
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/levy_reform/index_en.htm

Andrew


Reinier Bakels wrote:
> This cross-post is an emergency. I see lots of thoughts about the EU
> levies consultation, but what should we do now? We only have three weeks
> (until 18/4), and the questionaire contains many factual questions
> definitely not directed at information freedom activists such as
> ourselves. Fortunately the invitation
> on http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/levy_reform/index_en.htm says
> "All stakeholders are invited to comment on the issues in the attached
> second call for comments. Answers and comments, which may cover _all or
> only a limited number_ of the issues mentioned in the background
> document, should reach the e-mail address markt-d1 at ec.europa.eu
> <mailto:markt-d1 at ec.europa.eu> by 18 April 2008." (Underscores added). I
> think we MUST not answer those factual questions, because they will
> wonder why we did that at all.
>  
> I think it is time to draft a "table of contents". Imho it should start
> with an explanation to turn the Commission 180 degrees. They apparently
> enivisage a harmonisation on the executive level, assuming as a given
> that there is definitely a reason for levies - only the tariffs must not
> be out of step (perhaps I am slightly exaggerating but not much). We
> must explain 1) why a levy system can not work (no proper measure, no
> basis for a fair distribution, huge transaction cost, a police
> state needed for enforcement, no restoration of market failure) 2) and
> more fundamentally, why the present copyright system principles are
> unsound, in particular the idea that all and any copy is due a
> copyright, with only a few exceptions that actually "confirm the rule".
> After such an introduction, obviously there is no reason whatsoever
> anymore to spend any word on "fair" levy collection and distribution
> systems!
>  
> Hasn't such a document been written by any of you? How about the EFF in
> the US? I heard the Swedish PP website has lots of documents that "only"
> have to be transated from the Swedish? Or should we rework the "Jeroen
> Hellingman" letter written to the Dutch parliament a few months ago?
>  
> In sum: 1. Could we reuse an existing document? 2. Or: what could be a
> "table of contents" for a new document?
>   
> Groeten, Grüße, Regards, Cordialement, Hälsningar, Ciao, Saygilar,
> Üdvözlettel, Pozdrowienia, Kumusta, Adios, Oan't sjen, Ave, Doei,
> Yassou, Yoroshiku
>>>> REINIER B. BAKELS
> private: Johan Willem Frisostraat 149, 2713 CC Zoetermeer, The
> Netherlands telephone: +31 79 316 3126, GSM ("Handy") +31 6 4988 6490, 
> fax +31 79 316 7221
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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