In mid-July, a Dutch judge ruled that ISPs need not pony up data about P2P music downloaders to entertainment companies seeking payment for the downloads. The ruling is mired in some EU illogic about privacy, but never mind that now. TechDaily reports this morning that in the aftermath of this ruling, BREIN, a Dutch organization representing entertainment companies, has proposed that podcasters pay a monthly fee. Well, this is one alternative to going after individual users when no market for individual songs has been established (or can be in a unlicensed P2P environment). In my mind it is not optimal, resembling a tax in that it moves away from market pricing responsive to supply and demand. But it is one way that creators can get paid, at least.

posted by Solveig Singleton @ 10:45 AM | International

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