ROBERT SAYRE wrote in a message to CHARLES ANGELICH:

RJT> The issue of somebody going into a studio to produce a product is 
RJT> a little different. But it doesn't cost them anywhere near as much 
RJT> as they're charging for it, and the record industry charging more 
RJT> for a CD than they do for a tape is an irritant, particularly 
RJT> since it's cheaper for them to produce it!

RS>  I don't LIKE paying more for a CD, but it IS worth more to some, 
RS> so they'll pay. I can't complain too loudly over this one.

To some,  yeah,  but they're complaining lately about how lousy sales are
and blaming it on people doing illegal downloads.  They could bump sales up
a whole bunch if they'd just drop the price down significantly...

CA> This is the regulated free enterprise Americans love to brag about 
CA> until one groups manages to control a market and profit by that 
CA> control. ;-)

RS>  That's fine, to a point. But, using the government to block your 
RS> competition is crossing the line.

Yes.  It speaks to a company or industry that isn't strong enough to stand
on their own.

CA> The Canadian entertainment industry has been blocked for many years 
CA> from markets in the USA and that is also unfortunate for all of 
CA> us.

RS>  It appears that you agree.

CA> --8<--cut

CA> I agree they have priced the music beyond what I am willing to pay 
CA> for it. Video tapes seem _almost_ reasonable most of the time with 
CA> new releases dropping in price quite rapidly around here.

RJT> The actual cost of physically producing a music cd is maybe $2, 
RJT> tops, when you're talking about the medium itself, and the 
RJT> packaging. On top of that there's the compensation for the folks 
RJT> who designed the cover art and such, the people involved in all 
RJT> stages of the process from recording, producing, making the actual 
RJT> end product, and so forth, but even adding all of that up we're 
RJT> still being asked to pay too much.

CA> I agree it's gone too far.

But rather than back down they're trying to use the legal system to beat us
over the head with...

RJT> Mass production is supposed to be cheaper than one-time shots, 
RJT> right? Then how come it's so much cheaper for an individual to 
RJT> make a copy than it is to buy one? Until they fix _that_, there 
RJT> won't be any change in this situation...

CA> They are free to charge what people are willing to pay. If they
CA> could get $100 per CD there are no laws against that.

RS>  I don't have a problem with that. I have a problem with using law 
RS> to stop competition that would make things cost what they are 
RS> worth, rather than "what traffic will allow".

Agreed.

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