File sharing clamp down?

[Tillane]

Yes, but if the ISPs were to stop people from downloading altogether, whether it's by slowing their download speed, cutting them off altogether, or by setting up the service so that it's prohibitively expensive to use at download speeds, then they'll lose custom. People will simply stop using them, and the ISPs will lose money. I really can't see them going for it.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by The Ace

...the new ISP could take over where the old one left off.

That's why the government wants all of them on board.

Given the number of Pirate radio stations operating which they don't appear to be able to close down, I wonder how they will be able to prevent Pirate ISPs from operating? All you need is a server and a telephone socket. It is even easier than a transmitter in the back of a van.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by Tillane

There's an inherent problem with that, though, Lenny. Unless it's possible to prevent people downloading music by a specific band - which it isn't - any fee system such as the one you mentioned would have to be agreed with every recording artist and every label (and film company, etc, etc), otherwise it's meaningless and we'd still end up with a variant on the problem we have now. Oh, and the agreement would have to cover each and every ISP. If such an agreement can be reached, great. Personally, I wouldn't like to bet on it...

Music industry to tax downloaders - News, Music - The Independent

There's the article, if you want to read it.

I've just re-read it and seen that it's a government proposal.

Pah... pigs'll fly.

[Tillane]

Interesting article, but it raises a question that I hadn't considered before. If they're planning on introducing a levy system that you pay on top of the fee to your ISP, how are they going to make sure that a) the illegal downloaders pay it, and b) only the illegal downloaders pay it? Or are they planning it as a flat rate payment that everyone is subject to, regardless of whether they download stuff or not? If the latter, then I'd say they're on very shaky legal ground indeed.

Hmm. The plot, it be thickening...

[pyan]

Originally Posted by Tillane

I Or are they planning it as a flat rate payment that everyone is subject to, regardless of whether they download stuff or not? If the latter, then I'd say they're on very shaky legal ground indeed.

Surely we have that for TV already? It's called the BBC Licence Fee, and you have to pay it regardless of whether you ever watch BBC channels or not. This proposal sounds very similar in principle....

[Lenny]

Which was one of the things I was musing about, Till.

They could do it like the license fee, as Py suggested, or they could put their trust in people and do it like an airport asks people why they want to enter the country:

Surfing, Entertainment, Grown-up Entertainment, or Illegal File-Sharing?
Damnit, you got me guv - it's the last one.
That'll be an exra 30 squiddies a year, thankee.
It's a fair cop.

[Ursa major]

I wouldn't be happy paying a fee for download - I've never downloaded any music (unless you count the link to Star Trekkin' I accessed from one of the Start Trek threads) - and it isn't quite the same as paying for the BBC as that is based on TV ownership; a computer, by contrast, is a multi-purpose device and many are not used to access any form of entertainment (unless you count memos from Human Resources and/or Marketing).

[Tillane]

[quote=Ursa major;1168959]and it isn't quite the same as paying for the BBC as that is based on TV ownership; a computer, by contrast, is a multi-purpose device and many are not used to access any form of entertainment quote]
Ah, but in a way it is, Ursa. As you said, you have a PC but don't download music (neither do I). By the same token, you could own a TV and not watch any BBC channels. Having said which, I wouldn't be happy paying out for an extra downloading fee, either.

Surfing, Entertainment, Grown-up Entertainment, or Illegal File-Sharing?
Damnit, you got me guv - it's the last one.
That'll be an exra 30 squiddies a year, thankee.
It's a fair cop.

LOL. You know, I can just see that, Lenny.

'Scuse me, sir. Is that a laptop you've got there?
Um...yes.
Wi-fi connection is it, sir?
Yes, yes it is. Is that a problem?
Oh, no. No, sir. No problem at all. Lads? We've got one! Break out the knuckle dusters!

[Vladd67]

Of course when it comes to file sharing isn't this really irritating?
YouTube - New Knock-Off Nigel Ad - Knock-Off Nigel in office
Vladd's view of the World: Peter York On Ads: In an age when music has lost its meaning,will Knock-off Nigel be seen as a bad guy?

[The Ace]

Of course it is, Vlad. There's a certain justice in the ad being copied, though.