in reply to The SSSCA considered harmful
Well coming from England I have to say it sounds like the SSSCA is trying to cover too much, with too little rational behind it. What about Photocopiers? They contain loads of chips, but how the hell will that know if it is allowed to copy what you put on the glass?
From personal experience (UK here remember!) if they were that concerned about people making Mp3's and Divx's then why don't they just do the following:
Not charge £12.99 ($20) for a single chart cd going up to £19.99 ($30) for a double.
Not charge £15.99-£24.99 ($24-$37.5) for a new DVD release. Release them at similar times to the US.
The best example I have come across is the Simpsons Box Set Season 1. I can buy an imported R1 copy for £17.99, or get a R2 copy for £39.99. You have to rememeber that the price of the R1 copy of the DVD includes manaufacturing costs, profit margin of hollywood company, profit margin of uk importer company, US taxes, UK taxes, and yet it's still cheaper.
How can any Hollywood company say that is fair?
If people feel ripped off you can do whatever you want, but at the end of the day they will just ignore the SSSCA (or a UK equiv) and carry on. I think the companies would be better advised to think about WHY people are copying and how to solve the cause of this and not to block people from copying it. If the SSSCA comes in and is widely ignored are they going to try and take everyone to court? It would be an expensive occupation for them.
It's just a shame that if this gets passed in the US, it'll be an effective worldwide blanket. Common sense might lose it seems.
Duncan.
From personal experience (UK here remember!) if they were that concerned about people making Mp3's and Divx's then why don't they just do the following:
Not charge £12.99 ($20) for a single chart cd going up to £19.99 ($30) for a double.
Not charge £15.99-£24.99 ($24-$37.5) for a new DVD release. Release them at similar times to the US.
The best example I have come across is the Simpsons Box Set Season 1. I can buy an imported R1 copy for £17.99, or get a R2 copy for £39.99. You have to rememeber that the price of the R1 copy of the DVD includes manaufacturing costs, profit margin of hollywood company, profit margin of uk importer company, US taxes, UK taxes, and yet it's still cheaper.
How can any Hollywood company say that is fair?
If people feel ripped off you can do whatever you want, but at the end of the day they will just ignore the SSSCA (or a UK equiv) and carry on. I think the companies would be better advised to think about WHY people are copying and how to solve the cause of this and not to block people from copying it. If the SSSCA comes in and is widely ignored are they going to try and take everyone to court? It would be an expensive occupation for them.
It's just a shame that if this gets passed in the US, it'll be an effective worldwide blanket. Common sense might lose it seems.
Duncan.
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