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FatDog · 07-08-2011, 03:07 PM

It's interesting when you learn how complex our world is...

Several years ago I worked for a company that distributed Radio Commercials around the country with PC's and Modems. We wanted to back up the commercials to CD's because advertising companies often re-ran the commercials months apart.

At that time - burners cost $3,000 and blank CD's were $13 apiece. Trying to save money I was hunting around to find cheaper prices. When I was talking to one distributor and asked how come these were so expensive he told me that every blank Audio Cassette, VHS tape and blank CD had a special tax. From that $13 - nearly a full dollar went to the Motion Picture and Recording industry to offset their possible losses from piracy.

If you have ever bought blank media - you have already paid a fee to the industry in case you pirate. If you ever used to buy a LOT of VHS tapes to time-shift TV shows or CD/DVD to backup your data - you have already paid for the crime.

I am against Piracy. The people who create music, movies and stories deserve payment if we enjoy their work. But the middle-men, the Studios and Labels have gotten money for years off of blank media sales sanctioned by the government.

So you've been taxed - let your conscious be your guide.

07-08-2011, 03:07 PM	#22
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	It's interesting when you learn how complex our world is... Several years ago I worked for a company that distributed Radio Commercials around the country with PC's and Modems. We wanted to back up the commercials to CD's because advertising companies often re-ran the commercials months apart. At that time - burners cost $3,000 and blank CD's were $13 apiece. Trying to save money I was hunting around to find cheaper prices. When I was talking to one distributor and asked how come these were so expensive he told me that every blank Audio Cassette, VHS tape and blank CD had a special tax. From that $13 - nearly a full dollar went to the Motion Picture and Recording industry to offset their possible losses from piracy. If you have ever bought blank media - you have already paid a fee to the industry in case you pirate. If you ever used to buy a LOT of VHS tapes to time-shift TV shows or CD/DVD to backup your data - you have already paid for the crime. I am against Piracy. The people who create music, movies and stories deserve payment if we enjoy their work. But the middle-men, the Studios and Labels have gotten money for years off of blank media sales sanctioned by the government. So you've been taxed - let your conscious be your guide.