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Argentina: Direct Taxes and Digital Rights

Jorge Gobbi · 18:19

lingua → zhs · zht · es

In Argentina, the proposal of the Member of the Parliament from the official party, Claudio Morgado, is called “New Law for Music”. Article 21 of the new proposal states:

To create the Culture Development Fund, which will be under the administration of an entity formed by the National Institute of Music, National Institute of Film and Audiovisual arts, National Theater Institute and entities of collective management. The fund will be created by the sum amount collected by the implementation of a direct tax to every object that permits the storage, recording and reproduction of music and images.

In a very quick fashion, many Argentinean blogs started to cover the topic. The proposal was very similar to the direct tax that today is applied in Spain, and by which any media that allows to store or copy the contents must pay a percentage of its value as a “compensation” to the creators of works with copyrights. It is, in theory, a form to fight “piracy” and the loss of income by musicians, discographies and institutions that collect copyrights.In his blog, Denken Uber [es], Mariano Amartino thinks otherwise:

Bienvenida la idea de que ahora la piratería va a estar protegida legalmente porque, si me cobran un impuesto para “compensar, de alguna manera, los derechos intelectuales (fonográfico, de producción,etc,) de los autores, quienes se verían perjudicados por las reproducciones impagas de sus obras” esto implica que tengo el DERECHO de reproducir sus obras porque el cánon es la compensación que ellos reclaman.

Welcome the idea that now piracy will be legally protected because, if I pay a direct tax to ‘compensate, somehow, the intellectual rights (photographic, production, etc.) of the authors, who would be affected by unpaid reproductions of their work' this means that I have the RIGHT to reproduce their work because the tax is the compensation they claim.

There's also a page about this topic, No al canon [es], administered by Fabio Baccaglioni, from Fabio.com.ar [es]. There's a compilation of resources on the topic, and also a list of a large number of entries and articles published in blogs and newspapers. The repercussion of this topic in the Internet was such, that the M.P. Morgado called a meeting, where he invited many bloggers and journalists.According to Vanina Berghella, from La Propaladora [es], in that meeting “Morgado said he was against the payment of a tax that increases the price of digital objects” and he stated that such proposal had been added to the law project after the suggestion of the Independent Musicians Union as a strategy to finance a “Institute of Music”.Also, Mariano Amartino and Fabio Baccaglioni summarized what happened in the meeting. The famous Article 21 disappeared from the proposal, without notice. But Amartino stated that the discussion about the tax had not been abandoned and that organizations that collect copyrights in Argentina and discographies plan to introduce the direct tax in a future law. For now, the project to implement a canon in Argentina seems to be halted. It's not a minor fact: in a country where buying any kind of hardware or information storage device is expensive, the implementation of this tax would have added more costs. It also would transfer to the whole society the obligation to maintain the discographies business and institutions that collect copyrights. The case of discographies it's particularly interesting: the victims of terrible business decisions in regards to to the Internet, instead of assuming their mistakes and understanding that times have changed, are trying to preserve the model, at the expense of those who buy technology. For those who want to know more about the topic, there's a long list of links at No al Canon.

2 comments · »»

Kenya: Thank you Annan and team

Rebecca Wanjiku · 14:40

lingua → bn · es · zht · zhs

After the deal was announced, a caller to a local radio station was ecstatic and invited Kofi Annan and team to “nyama choma” (barbeque), another caller offered him two beers and another pronounced that Annan was the best angel God had sent to the people of Kenya.

The level of excitement in the streets of Nairobi and Kisumu demonstrated that the worst is over, and that Kenya will possibly not tilt over the edge like it did in the last two months.

The deal was finally brokered, it will force constitutional amendments but in the end, Kenyans knew that their fate is in their hands. It is a new begining for a nation that has been saved from following the legacy of failed states in Africa.

The details of the deal and the “behind the scenes” details are being discussed in the major towns. The Kenyan blogosphere also paints a similiar picture.

When the news broke, Lovely money wrote a “thank you” note to Kofi Annan and his team:

On behalf of hopeful Kenyans, I would sincerely like to thank you for your hard efforts and patience that you have demonstrated.
Last but not least, the sustained efforts of Graca Michel and Benjamin Mkapa cannot be ignored. Asanteni sana.

LostwhiteKenyan felt the political development was like a new year's gift and decided to showcase the happiness and the dance moves online:

In order to celebrate this fabulous day when our leaders finally made a decision to bring peace back to Kenya, I am extremely excited to be able to bring you a full programme of entertainment for your viewing pleasure to help you all join in our merriment ………
We shall start with a little dance from yours truly….

Political articles witnessed the jubilations in Kenya:

Kenyans cheered and danced as they witnessed the opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki signing a power-sharing agreement in Nairobi.
Supporters of Mr. Odinga’s party, the Orange Democratic Movement, celebrated in Kisumu, Kenya, after the signing. The agreement was reached only after Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, negotiated directly with Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga.

The post by Kumekucha gives an idea of how people's lives had come to ”almost” a halt as a result of the violence and subsequesnt slow pace of the talks:

It is like the whole country has been holding it’s breath since December 30th 2007 and everybody started breathing again a few hours ago when a breakthrough in the the Anan peace talks was finally announced.
“We have a deal,” Anan said capturing the drama and suspense of the moment.

Wild celebrations were noted in many parts of the country including areas like Migori where or man on the ground reports, Kenyans went crazy with jubilation. As I wrote his, I still don’t have a reaction from the Rift Valley. No reports of celebrations there, at least not yet.

For Wheremadnessresides it was time to wish each other a “happy new year” because it will be time to proceed with normal business for many Kenyans:

Everybody in my parts is wishing everybody a Happy New Year.
Happy New Year. Today is when 2008 begins for us.

I read from Oyunga Pala that Dr Frank Njenga, probably Kenya's most reknown pyschiatrist, had listed ‘not being able to stop talking about politics' as one of the symptoms of post-election trauma in Kenya.

One Nairobian witnessed the jubilation and has a request to the international media- to extend their coverage:

An almost euphoric celebration greeted the wider Kenya due to this recent development that will bring to an end two months of tension and violence.

It is my sincere hope that the International press the likes of Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, SKY News will now feature this joyous news on a 15 minute basis to highlight that Kenyans are not just about machettes but co-existence , perseverance, resilience, agreement, peace, love and unity. Dont just sell the negative!

With the deal reached, it will now be time to heal the wounds and start the reconstruction process.

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Israel: Ashkelon is ‘on the map'

Gilad Lotan · 12:47

lingua → es · zht · zhs

Missiles have fallen in the city of Ashkelon, one directly hitting a residential building, and another very close to a public school. This is a substantial shift as Ashkelon, a major city in Israel, had been off-limits to the Gazan missile attacks until recently. The attack, caught the city's residents by surprise, as it has yet to install its “color red” missile attack warning systems.

On Wednesday this week, a harsh qassam missile attack hit the south of Israel, killing a 47-year-old student, father of four, at the Sapir College campus. In response, IDF escalated its attacks on targets in Gaza, in which four Palestinian children were killed. This led to rocket launches, hitting the city of Ashkelon. Many worried bloggers from Ashkelon react, describing their experiences with terror and fear, within this deteriorating situation that seems ever more hopeless:

reaction1:

Ashkelon… Today this city is on the map. But not because of an impressive accomplishment, but because of Grad missiles that Hamas sent over as presents. A Grad rocket fell in my neighborhood (I heard its whistling as it passed my house, right before the explosion), and 4-5 more around town. But this is peanuts for our prime minister. And our mayor is too busy dealing with the sexual harassment case, that I'm doubtful if he can improve on anything.
So what are we doing? Maybe we'll just stay in our houses and live in fear. Maybe we will move from Ashkelon to another place, where within 5 years we'll realize that rockets also fall in Tel Aviv, where our honorable aristocrats live.
Did we not learn from past generations? The powerful Israel, with this amazingly shiny army, peer brotherhood - all this destroyed. Youth turning against each other, while the saying ‘to die for our country' is considered from an ancient time, passed onto us only by stories from our grandfather, who now also says ‘damn it'!

reaction2:

Here, Abu Mazn, our moderate partner, is not opposed to resuming the armed struggle against Israel. This hopeless situation seems to have no resolution. While it is easy to say that the government does not do anything and that this is an outrage, there is not much that can be done against such simple weapons. True, there exists a laser system that intercepts, but it does not promise 100 per cent success. When 100 rockets are launched per day, or even per week, it is only a matter of time before one causes severe damage.

reaction3:

Until this didn't reach us, I had not thought much about Sderot.
Every day there is talk about qassam missiles falling there; death, injury and anxiety. All that did not really get to me.
But now I understand it. I comprehend the fear and terror that lingers there, and our country that does not take them into consideration. Why should it do something for Ashkelon? A death here, or death there. Not to worry, only a person's life.

reaction4:

It tears me apart, cuts and forms a scab. I am torn after reading this(Israeli student killed by a qassam missile).
First Sderot, then Ashkelon and soon Ashdod (where I live). As I am a political science major, people constantly ask me “what should be done against the Qassam missiles? How do we make peace?”
I always answer “its not that simple…” and change the topic.

The more I learn about this topic, the more I realize that I do not understand anything. So many layers and complexities which are keeping me from formulating a solid political stance. On the one hand, I was raised in a Russian home, preaching that Lieberman (strong right wing anti-arab views) needs to manage the country. But on the other hand, aggression only places the rest of the world against us. Receiving 40 qassam missiles per day as a routine is not acceptable.

The only thing I do know is that our leadership is extremely defective, rotten and must be changed!
I will finish with hope for the residents of Ashkelon and Sderot, that these terrible days will soon come to an end, and we will wake up from this nightmare.

reaction5:

They did not help Sderot. What about us?!

First of all, I am from Ashkelon, and this is frightening. I just got back home. Difficult to write. Only half an hour ago a qassam missle hit. I was in practice and went outside to find a friend. She cried. Was very stressed. Then we heard two little blasts and she started crying. Then there was a powerful ‘BoooooooM'! Really powerful, as if in the school. We immediately ran to the sports hall. Everyone was worried. Missiles fell close to where I live.
Tomorrow I am not going to school.

reaction6:

The south is red, not from flowers.
I cannot comprehend it.
Every 10 minutes at least, there is a siren sounding. At first, I was one of those who laughed at all the worried people. How did I become one of them?
Qassam missiles are falling without stop in the past couple of days. Two fell in my settlement today. One close. Yesterday another fell close, very very close.
Why do people only notice this issue when it reaches Ashkelon? What about us?
We are not a city so we are not important?
I'm dying to get out of here. This is becoming very frightening.

Sad for me to think that yesterday I was not even aware of the situation, and now am baffled at how it was allowed to reach this point.

Here are links to our previous posts covering this topic:
Israel: Two Sderot Kids Severely Injured by Hamas Missiles
Israel: Israeli Bloggers Respond to Crisis in Palestine
Israel: Rockets Hit Sderot, Flame the Israeli Blogosphere
Israel: Sderot's Invisible Wounds

3 comments · »»