Charles Wood

UK

Video director

I wish low cost to the consumer was the end result of the reality of capitalism, but it is not a social process, more a law of physics. It has no relationship to the needs of people involved.

Currently our NHS service and roads and railtrack are examples of services run by the state because no one can make a profit running them. yet we ALL need this service.

In Africa, the exchange of music at zero cost and payment rapidly destroyed their indiginous music industry. This was because people could NOT afford it, as is the case in Cuba (100th per capita income of the UK). Ay least Cuba partly recognises the value of their own culture, to everyone.

So another solution is needed, before it falls apart worldwide. Already many lesser known musicians are ignored by big companies and fail on the net because they are treated as if they are a big company and not paid for their work.(it feels right socially....?!)

Copyright only solves the problem for those that can afford to enforce it. What is needed is a social method of recognising and rewarding value, even if it is within a capitalist economy. I am not trying to argue here that Cuba does it best, just that there are alternative solutions which work.

Who would deny that Cuba's music is excellent?

An automated regstration system with a unique code per musical item, run at cost by an oganisation by MCPS, for everyone, freely, could solve this dilema in an equitable manner. Unfortunately they are a company trying to make a profit so are unlikley to do this without the state stepping in and funding the process.

The music industry as we know it definitely dissappear with this system and so they will not only not fund it, but will oppose the concept.

So if you are a musician, I suggest you get a paying job (maybe in tesco's selling music from the 70's)...now.