Isle Of Man to Get Unlimited Legal Music Downloads

Citizens of the self-governing Isle of Man might be able to legally download unlimited music from the Internet. The Isle Of Man Government e-Business Division has announced that they are trying to reach an agreement with the major labels that would introduce a compulsory blanket license for music downloads. This would allow residents to download as much music as they want, for an added yearly tax payment similar to the TV license in the UK.

At the MidemNet conference this weekend, the Isle Of Man’s inward investment minister Ron Berry said:

“At the end of the day, we are not going to stop piracy, so let’s embrace it.”

With a compulsory license, Internet Service Providers would no longer have to control music sharers, on the downside, the tax would be the same for all residents, regardless of how much they downloaded.

Although labels will probably be wary of the low rates used in collective licenses, Ron Berry told NME.COM:

“We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t think we would get support from the record industry,” he said. “That is essential. We’ve had a lot of help so far.”

This is a good indication that the major record companies are willing to do anything to fight Internet piracy.

Would you submit to a yearly “music download” tax?

Photo via www.bbc.co.uk
Source: NME, Register