Taxing Internet access to pay for music downloads

slyder2 used our news submit to tell us "I"m sure that the RIAA hates this because it puts the control of revenue into the hands of others, essentially casterating their ever descreasing ability to control the distribution of content. No matter how much sense an alternate idea may make, once you have the power, its a very hard thing to let go..."

Fisher advocates an alternative compensation system that would pay artists based on the popularity of their music. Artists would first have to register their work with the copyright office, which would track how many times that work was downloaded. Revenue generated from taxes on things like Internet access and the sale of MP3 players would then be used to pay the artists. Similar plans have been proposed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and University of Texas at Austin law professor Neil Netanel, among others.Fisher said his alternative model would allow music fans to obtain more music for less money, without fears of legal action from the RIAA. All artists would be paid better than they are under the current regime. He said that while record industry execs "hated" his idea, there are "much more significant prospects for building this in other countries."

I have to agree with slyder2, there is no way the labels are going to sign off on this one. The thing that really sets off my radar is when anyone proposes an Internet tax. Bureaucrats get all worked up and little dots of persperation form on their upper lip every time they sense another bonanza of cash flowing their way. The problem is, any time a govenrment tries to provide rather than protect, it spells trouble. Soon, the bloated administration sucks up 90 percent of the funds, leaving just a pittance for the intended suffering masses. Wait, I'm confused I thought I was talking about the labels for a minute, isn't that what they do? No wonder they don't like it.

Source: Wired