[CraigNobbs]

In the PPoC newsletter just sent out it said,

... will decide whether or not to include demands for a tariff on residential Internet connections, whether to support measures to make commercial copyright more accessible to artists...

I don't recall any recent topic except the one I started about the levy idea, so where did "demands for a tariff on residential Internet connections" come from and what is it that we're discussing?

Also, does "make commercial copyright more accessible to artists" mean for remixing?  If not, then where is this discussion?


I looked through all of the new forum posts and neither of those are currently posted as topics of discussion, so I am really confused.


Please enlighten me... I feel as though there is something that I am clearly missing here but cannot find it.

[Mikkel Paulson]

It's part of the platform the Directors are working on. They're looking for approval by the membership now.

[CraigNobbs]

Does that mean that information will show up before the IRC meeting on the boards here?  or that it will all be presented during the IRC meeting?

[Mikkel Paulson]

Not up to me, but hopefully more information will be forthcoming.

[Nuitari]

We've discussed the question of a levy on Internet connections plenty on the old forum.
None of the topics ever resulted in a clear choice by the party.

Basically it would be a levy on all residential Internet access, probably based as a GST surcharge for the connection. A government organization will be formed to administer the monies.

It would go to up to 3 different areas:
1. Direct payment to artists based on popularity / downloads, up to a certain cap (eg a popular artist with sufficient income from their activity wouldn't receive as much as a struggling one).
2. Sponsorship of cultural events, either directly or through the provinces.
3. (To be voted separately) to a fund to help artist enforce commercial copyright.

Also, does "make commercial copyright more accessible to artists" mean for remixing?  If not, then where is this discussion?

Currently it's very hard for artists to pursue cases of commercial copyright. Lawyers are expensive. Some artists trying to assert their copyrights against a business end up in very long fights.

This case recently made headlines in QC. The fight has lasted for 14 years .
http://international-animated-films.suite101.com/article.cfm/claude_robinson_wins_cinar_lawsuit

For remixing, standards will be used to determine if it is non-commercial or commercial. Eg is there an expectation of meaningful income from the remix?

[Jay Frank]

I'm highly opposed to a levy on ISPs as it will solve nothing.
I'm also highly opposed to secret talks with the "elite" directors that do not involve input from the public.
Good show of transparency there guys.
My activities within the party will come to an abrupt halt if this becomes part of the platform based on closed-door talks.

J

[Ayes]

obviously I'll have to wait until I read what you guys propose before I lay judgement, but I don't know why we can't just share our ideas with our political contemporaries

[Jay Frank]

Apparently there will be a vote on adding a "Levy vrs ISP" system into the platform during the next IRC meeting.
Please post the documentation and internal discussion here so that we can formulate an informed opinion.
Please also explain why this wasn't made public on the new forums?

Thank you in advance for your time.

J

[Concerned Citizen]

I'm guessing they're still writing it is why it isnt on the forum for review yet. Give them a day or two I guess to write and edit it a bit. I know how fugly my first drafts on things would be

[Jay Frank]

I'm going to be very upset if there is an attempt to ram this through without a great deal of discussion and calls from membership for it's inclusion into the platform.

J

[Mikkel Paulson]

Not quite first, seeing as you've already read and replied to Nuitari's explanation. I'll certainly be voting against it, but I don't know that there's anything particularly underhanded going on.  There was, after all, a 3-page thread on the subject in the old forum.

Edit: I've compiled the forum thread in PDF for review. Printed, it's 38 pages long.

[Concerned Citizen]

I'd be inclined to vote against it too... Partly because ISP levy would likely be warped by existing parties into something akin to the Blank Media Levy which only started paying out to artists like last year or something despite being in place for over a decade.

[Jay Frank]

Thanks for all your hard work Mik.
Um...First was for being the first to post in this sub-forum on the new board.

J

[Mikkel Paulson]

Gotcha.

[Nuitari]

The platform writing was started after the last meeting, as per these minutes.

http://meetings.pirateparty.ca/2010-05-19_minutes.pdf

Mikkel posted in this thread the past discussions about the levy:

http://www.pirateparty.ca/forum/index.php?topic=108.msg0#new