[pp.int.general] cultural flatrate: PP position?

[Reinier Bakels]

> of tracking who downloads what, to share the money in a fair manner? Or
> can you live with the fact, that you install a system that is not
> perfect, but works pretty well?

You underestimate the redistribution problem.
Some people assume that advanced accouting schemes will be able to know 
precisely what author is entitled to what amount of money. But that starts 
from a (technocratic) view that considers "culture production" just like any 
other economic endeavour. While actually the cultural diversity is the prime 
purpose (see American constitution - unfortunately Europe lacks a similar 
base). This is not just theory: a redistribution scheme based on numbers 
will favour middle of the road mass culture. And the shareholders of the 
handful of gigantic record conglomerates that are remaining.
Consider the (narrow) defintion of "rent seeking": "an activity by 
commercial entities advocating apparently(!) reasonable legislation that 
favours their bottom line." Running a business in copyrighted material is a 
matter of policing. I worked in a software sales department. How do you make 
more business in software? By telling potential customers how good your 
software fulfills their needs? Too much effort! Simply check whether thay 
all paid their licence fees.

reinier