Compulsory computer licenses

A sort of an off/on computer topic :D

Two Belgian politicians are pushing for a system of compulsory computer licenses to be introduced in Belgium

So would you personally back its enforcement ?

The register

I don't know.......

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the license would be similar to a levy on blank CDs

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That doesn't seem fair. We use blank CD's for other thing rather than music, and it would seem that I'd be paying double, for the cds? :eek:

Hmm............

Try going to the main page http://www.theregister.co.uk and its under the title Belgians moot computer licensing

That would b a good idea...

...only if you would then be allowed to download the music and movies legally (free)!

I'm glad I read the linked article. I was thinking "Computer License" like "Driver's License", where you would have to show some basic usage ability before buying one or putting one on the net :)

Wishful thinking on my part, I know.

And no, I'd never support the scheme in the link. We don't license our TV's here either :)

Do they still have TV licences in the UK ??

I remember as a child hiding because the TV licence man was coming round and my mum and dad didn't have one, so they told us kids to hide and be quiet. :eek:

That's why we moved to Australia, to get free TV (just kidding).

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Originally posted by Nix
Do they still have TV licences in the UK ??

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Yep we do, and you can really see where our money is going, in the quality of repeats....I mean brand new programs that are being shown.:rolleyes:

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Originally posted by P3-450
Yep we do, and you can really see where our money is going, in the quality of repeats....I mean brand new programs that are being shown.:rolleyes:

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Now theres the topic of another UK poll :rolleyes: :D

Licenses for TV? what the heck?? :eek:

Photolady, you'd be surprised, but not only are there countries that make you pay for a TV license, but you also have to pay for local telephone calls. :eek:

TV Licenses are usually only for countries that have state owned channels without commercials, like BBC. Governments have to have some kind of way to steal our money besides all those high taxes.

I'm glad I live where I do then. Although, since we have cable or satellite here, we have to pay for those; so, in essence, I guess you would/could call that a license, eh? :(

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Originally posted by photolady
I'm glad I live where I do then. Although, since we have cable or satellite here, we have to pay for those; so, in essence, I guess you would/could call that a license, eh? :(

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LOL, no! You are paying all those greedy TV execs who get money from customers who watch TV and also from the companies who pay for their ads to be run. But for example, ABC, NBC and CBS are for free to watch because they do with the money they get from the Ads industry.
In England (and Israel for that matter), we have state owned tv (Like BBC) without commercials which are paid by taxes (In Israel, for example, if you don't pay your TV License, the authorities can confiscate your bank account, take your car etc.), and then there is the cable/satelite which is also paid for.
Basically, we pay twice.

It'll never fly.

What about those who don't use computers to download media files? or those that do but only download legal or paid-for files? Or those that use other peoples or public/internet cafe/library computers?

Should I pay a licence to cover someone elses downloads? I think not.

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Originally posted by usil
but you also have to pay for local telephone calls. :eek:

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We have to pay for local calls here in Australia.

Please explain the concep of not having to.

ie how does that work and in what countries ?

When I used to live in America (New Jersey), local phone calls were free. If you would dial to another area you would have to pay. I am not sure what other fees you had to pay. For all I know, you had to pay a fixed monthly fee, and then you could call locally as much as you want for free. I was a kid back then, so I don't know the details. I am sure someone will explain it more clearly than I did.