Andrew
13-01-2006, 19:05
Digital DJs must pay twice to store tracks on hard drive
Xeni Jardin: Boing Boing reader Scott says,
BBC News is reporting (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4609378.stm) that most club DJs in the UK are unaware of a licensing restriction that means if they buy a CD or vinyl track, they will have to pay an additional licence fee if they rip it to a hard drive and play it out from there. (Earlier story on The Stage on the same topic: Link (http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/10638/outrage-over-digital-licence-that-makes-djs))
The Digital DJ licence costs GBP200 + VAT per device -- so if they use an iPod or similar, they could well need to pay more than once -- on top of the existing public performance licence that club DJs need. Now, this is just my opinion, but this structure seems more about getting revenue than it does about enforcing copyright/protecting the original artists/whatever excuse is being given this week.
To add insult to injury, the signup page (http://www.digitaldj.co.uk/paris/digitaldj_home.asp?page=digitaldj_appform.asp) defaults to a licence GBP50 more expensive than the one needed. The extra money entitles you to access a members-only website as well as a "welcome pack with a glossy flyer containing your membership card and a place to store all of your Digital DJ literature"! Woo!
Via Boing Boing (http://www.boingboing.net/)
Particularly given that many DJs are moving over to using digital music because of convenience and availability, it seems like an extra tax on performing. (Though this is nothing new - music CD-Rs, etc.)
Xeni Jardin: Boing Boing reader Scott says,
BBC News is reporting (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4609378.stm) that most club DJs in the UK are unaware of a licensing restriction that means if they buy a CD or vinyl track, they will have to pay an additional licence fee if they rip it to a hard drive and play it out from there. (Earlier story on The Stage on the same topic: Link (http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/10638/outrage-over-digital-licence-that-makes-djs))
The Digital DJ licence costs GBP200 + VAT per device -- so if they use an iPod or similar, they could well need to pay more than once -- on top of the existing public performance licence that club DJs need. Now, this is just my opinion, but this structure seems more about getting revenue than it does about enforcing copyright/protecting the original artists/whatever excuse is being given this week.
To add insult to injury, the signup page (http://www.digitaldj.co.uk/paris/digitaldj_home.asp?page=digitaldj_appform.asp) defaults to a licence GBP50 more expensive than the one needed. The extra money entitles you to access a members-only website as well as a "welcome pack with a glossy flyer containing your membership card and a place to store all of your Digital DJ literature"! Woo!
Via Boing Boing (http://www.boingboing.net/)
Particularly given that many DJs are moving over to using digital music because of convenience and availability, it seems like an extra tax on performing. (Though this is nothing new - music CD-Rs, etc.)