There was just an article on the news hereon TV, about a suggestion about adding a $5 surcharge on all high speed Internet bills in Canada that would be profiting the recording industry. And the up-side? The ability to download share music files online, legally.

Now, this is just an idea that was presented to the government by the recording industry, but I thought it would be interesting to hear what others have to say. Personally, I wouldn't mind it. I know that most of the members on here probably don't pay their own bills yet, but still, give your thoughts.

The other side of the coin here is that the fee would be mandatory, even for people who do not download music files.

EDIT: found the article for it online. Most of the readers don't seem to like it though.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNe...0080221?hub=Canada

i don't think i'd mind, it would make 6,000 songs legal

thats $60/year of "Music Surcharges"...which is also pointless, because they make up half the numbers about piracy of music as it is.  The MPAA has similar tactics....in my opinion, music should be available for free online anyway, because you're using your connection that you already pay ridiculous prices for to download and a lot of people "try before they buy", like myself...if I hear a really good CD from a download, i'll buy it...I did that recently with the "OneRepublic" CD.  So no, I don't think there should be a surcharge.

I personally would not mind, actually I would encourage companies in America to do this. I think it'd stop a lot of heat coming from artists .

lol voted for the wrong thing

and then another $5 for legal movies, then another $5 for legal applications.....

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Originally posted by -dt-
and then another $5 for legal movies, then another $5 for legal applications.....

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Originally posted by rm rulz
lol voted for the wrong thing

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* You voted for this item. [Undo]

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Originally posted by rm rulz

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Originally posted by -dt-
and then another $5 for legal movies, then another $5 for legal applications.....

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id be willing to pay $200 for all things on the net to be legal

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Originally posted by RebelSean
I personally would not mind, actually I would encourage companies in America to do this. I think it'd stop a lot of heat coming from artists .

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Originally posted by -dt-

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Originally posted by rm rulz

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Originally posted by -dt-
and then another $5 for legal movies, then another $5 for legal applications.....

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id be willing to pay $200 for all things on the net to be legal

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a month? are you insane

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I would definately pay $5 a month if that rule was incurred, but if you could get away with it like you could right now then i would not bother.

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Originally posted by -dt-
and then another $5 for legal movies, then another $5 for legal applications.....

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um... http://www.qtrax.com
http://qtrax.com/whatsonqtrax.html
free legal music

It'd become too complicated, such as, oh you can only download 2 albums worth from our DRM site, or 1 movie a week or something from our website with only older films on from a few companies.

I don't think it's a good idea.
Some people will be charged without ever downloading any music (yes they still exist) and, as said before, if they gets this through, then what's next? Then they will have to do the same for movies, software, games (if that isn't categorised under software) and maybe even more in the future.
Also, who's going to check whether the extra money actually goes to the artists who should receive it? Here in the Netherlands we have something called "Stichting Thuiskopie" which should receive and distribute these kinds of fees (eg. we have a fee on empty cds/dvds/etc, that's why I buy those in germany) but they have been criticised multiple times for keeping too much of the money for themselves.

Besides, I can already download music and movies legally here. Downloading pirated software is illegal, and so is uploading of any of the above, but I'm willing to take that risk.

Doesn't sound like a good idea. Where will the money go to? Probably only organizations like the RIAA and big record labels, while smaller artist are left out.

They are doing almost the same thing here in the Netherlands, but with empty cd's and dvd's. Didn't work either , they have a big bank account with millions of euros and the artists did not get antything.

If it actually went to the ones who made the music, then it would be a good idea. I download very little music though, but instead I'm quite the movie addict - and I wouldn't mind paying a certain fee for downloading movies. But, as I said, only if it went to the right people. I'm not interested in supporting those who did absolutely nothing to create the work of art I download.

It's a good idea but it's one of those fairy tale ideas. You'd technically be paying for loads of albums with just 5 bucks. This would do more damage, though yet again 5 bucks a month is atleast something rather than nothing aaand yet again this possibility means even more people will download music.

Pft, no. No money would go to the artists and legal downloads are boring. Internet is already overpriced anyway. All these points have already been made but o well.

I would gladly pay $5/mo for all you can download 1080HD anime

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Originally posted by xen0h
um... http://www.qtrax.com
http://qtrax.com/whatsonqtrax.html
free legal music

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Originally posted by freak544

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Originally posted by xen0h
um... http://www.qtrax.com
http://qtrax.com/whatsonqtrax.html
free legal music

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It doesn't work for me all it says is "downloads coming soon"

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Originally posted by xen0h

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Originally posted by freak544

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Originally posted by xen0h
um... http://www.qtrax.com
http://qtrax.com/whatsonqtrax.html
free legal music

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It doesn't work for me all it says is "downloads coming soon"

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http://www.qtrax.com/download.html
or direct exe file http://qtrax-cdod-r1.vitalstreamcdn.com/Player/Qt...a_windows-i686.exe

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Nah, i wouldn't do it. I'm not in Canada though.

If they provided a site for me to download music off with the type of music I listen to then yes, otherwise no. There will be no point.