Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/20/manx_music_tax/
The Manx Music Blanket Mystery
Hey, nobody told us
Posted in Law, 20th January 2009 15:20 GMT
Free whitepaper – Driving Situational Awareness:
Sources on the Isle of Man have expressed surprise at the proposal to issue a blanket licence legalising the exchanges of digital music over P2P networks.
The proposal was made at MidemNet this weekend by a Manx civil servant, Ron Berry. Berry is a broadcaster [1], joint owner of the Manx radio station 3FM founder, and founded an advertising agency. He made the suggestion in his capacity as controller of revenue for the Isle.
A major ISP on the Isle hadn't been informed, sources suggest.
The BPI also issued a statement today clarifying comments made by chief executive Geoff Taylor on the proposal.
"Our door is open and if there are broadband companies interested in launching a music service in the Isle of Man, then we would welcome commercial discussions," the BPI said in a statement. "But speculation of a blanket filesharing deal akin to a broadband tax imposed by Government, as has been suggested, is not something we’d welcome – and is some way wide of the mark."
Taylor had been welcoming ISP partnerships, rather than a blanket licence, the BPI stressed.
We've invited Ron to explain the proposal, and will bring you news as soon as he gets back to us. ®