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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2>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 <A
href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/levy_reform/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/levy_reform/index_en.htm</A> says
"<FONT color=#000000 size=3>All stakeholders are invited to comment on the
issues in the attached second call for comments. Answers and comments, which may
cover <U>all or only a limited number</U> of the issues mentioned in the
background document, should reach the e-mail address </FONT><A
href="mailto:markt-d1@ec.europa.eu"><FONT
size=3>markt-d1@ec.europa.eu</FONT></A><FONT color=#000000 size=3> by 18 April
2008.</FONT>" (Underscores added). I think we MUST not answer those factual
questions, because they will wonder why we did that at all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2>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!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2>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?
</FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2>Or should we rework the
"Jeroen Hellingman" letter written to the Dutch parliament a few months
ago?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>In sum: 1. Could we
reuse an existing document? 2. Or: what could be a "table of contents" for a new
document?</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Groeten, Grüße, Regards, Cordialement, Hälsningar, Ciao, Saygilar,
Üdvözlettel, Pozdrowienia, Kumusta, Adios, Oan't sjen, Ave, Doei, Yassou,
Yoroshiku<BR>>>> REINIER B. BAKELS <BR>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</DIV></BODY></HTML>