The issue is obviously quite politically charged in terms of the motion that came through this committee, as well as the private member's bill that we've seen. I think there's value in a private copying levy. I have some concerns with the proposals that have been put forward.
First, with all respect, it's not the people putting this forward, but it's those who are calling on elected officials to support a private copying levy who are being disingenuous. On the one hand, they say that a lot of copying is taking place and the creators need to be compensated. I think that resonates with people and it makes some sense, but we all recognize the kind of copying that's taking place is largely peer-to-peer copying. Yet, those same groups will turn around and say this isn't about peer-to-peer copying, but it's about other types of copying. It strikes me as not being completely honest.
If we're going to have a levy that actually addresses the real type of copying, let's have a debate. Let's establish a levy that makes some sense, doesn't create price distortions, which I think, with respect, this one does, and is not overly broad, which, with respect again, I think this one is. But nevertheless, let's at least have an open debate.
I think there's an attempt here to have one's cake and eat it too. On the one hand, we want all kinds of compensation for copying, including copying on new devices. At the same time, we persist in calling people who make those copies “pirates”. We can't have it both ways. If people are going to pay, let's have a levy that genuinely addresses those issues and where the copying is taking place. Let's not kid ourselves. This isn't about someone who buys a CD and copies it on an iPod. This is about dealing with peer-to-peer copying. Yet, the groups behind it persist in saying it's not about that.