Record execs call for tax on used CDs: "Information wants to be $18.98"

By at 9:55 pm Friday, Jun 14

The music industry sees Napster everywhere it looks -- CD burners, P2P sharing, used record sales... The RIAARecord execs have (Thanks, hotgrits!) proposed a six percent royalty on all used CD sales, paid out by used CD stores.

Where to begin? The doctrine of first sale, for starters. I've bought the CD, it belongs to me, I'm free to sell it on, throw it out, or give it away. The recording industry has no legitimate interest in the aftermarket for my lawfully acquired property.

And about that aftermarket... I often buy used CDs, especially from searchable places like Amazon and Half, when I'm thinking about trying out a new band. Last week, a BB reader suggested that I try out The Avalanches. I bought a used Amazon disc for six bucks, discovered that I hated the disc and gave it away to a co-worker.

But last week I also rediscovered my love-affair with the band The Jazz Butcher and ordered two of the discs that I used to own on vinyl from Amazon, and followed up the order by buying a couple more Jazz Butcher discs used that I hadn't heard before.

The idea that this thriving aftermarket in used discs challenges -- rather than augments -- the music industry's revenue is every bit as ridiculous as the idea that the industry has a legit interest in controlling that market.

This Darth-Vader-grade villainy is just inexcusable. As one reader waxpancake, a reader, has suggested, as far as the industry is concerned, "Information wants to be $18.98." Link Discuss (via /.)

Cory Doctorow

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