Piracy Surcharge?

This retard who consults for three of four major labels wants Internet Service Providers to collect a $5 monthly fee from its customers to compensate for file sharing losses. That money would then be divied up amongst the artists featured most prominently on p2p sites. While this is lame and something I dont' want to have to do, it isn't totally unprecendented.

Wired noted, "The concept of collecting a fee for unauthorized use of music was developed in France in 1851 as a way of reimbursing composers whose work was being performed without their permission in cafes and the like. The practice spread to the United States in 1914 and currently applies to radio airplay and webcasts in addition to live performances."

The RIAA even went so far with this as to have a secret, behind-the-scenes and locked doors meeting about it all.

"An invitation-only meeting on the subject drew about 50 people, including representatives of IFPI, Sony BMG, T-Mobile, the giant European ISP and mobile-carrier Orange, and performing-rights organizations like BMI. The response, according to Jenner, "ranged from 'What do we do now?' to 'It sounds good, but can it possibly work?' A lot of people are like rabbits in the headlights: They're terrified they're going to lose their jobs. No one dares to feel that this might be the solution."

This is stupid. I already pay too much for shitty internet thanks to Verizon (also thanks to Comcast for not recognizing the McKibbin lofts), so I definately do not want to pay $5 more! The major labels continue on in their fruitless war on terrorists and pirates, while we keep on sharing. Don't stop sharing music! Give a friend a track!

WIRED