Sitting somewhere between “What the flying motherf&%^er!!!” and “Bend over… just a little bit more…” comes word that Canadian copyright groups want to re-instate the ridiculous $75 levy that was placed on sold-in-Canada MP3 players a few years ago, but was repealed because, well, it’s bullshit to have it on them. Let me briefly explain: back in the 1980s, when cassettes were the tools of piracy, musicians (rightly) asked for a cut of sales of said cassettes. Ditto for blank CDs. After all, they might as well make a buck as a result of the illegal activities they know you’re going to do anyway. However, MP3 players are, at their hearts, hard drives or flash drives. Therefore, the same levy doesn’t apply, because their storage is integrated as part of the device, and isn’t really removable as CDs or tapes are from their respective players. Thus, the argument ensues.

The reason the levy for MP3 players is bullshit is simple: DRM. Because of the draconian measures many companies (okay, primarily Apple, but the rest are pretty bad) they’ve already got control of how you can play and move your virtual property. I can play my CD on any CD player, as many times as I want. Remove the DRM (and possible spyware – Sony) and I’d be glad to fork over the 99 cents. But right now, I hate iPods – long story – and I don’t want to be a part of the DRM movement until they get it right. If the levy is re-instated, expect a number of Canadians flocking to northern U.S. stores.

[via Canadaeast.com]