[WEB4LIB] Re: Death of the Copyright - cost analysis

[Masters, Gary E]

This will be my last post on this line, but it came to me that the cost of
putting a CD into a store is much more than the cost of the plastic CD.  We
have shipping, inventory and lots of people expenses that are not there when
it is just a digital file that is sent on the Internet.  The point is that
if the publishers have an electronic distribution system they have
confidence in, the real cost will be so low that they can (If they want)
sell a song for cents.  Books for a dollar or so.  What I think we need is a
compromise.  Usually that means putting enough pressure (fear?) to both
sides and waiting for a treaty of sorts.  Customers can fear jail or fine
and vendors can fear a total meltdown of copyright.  

I don't have any problem with copy protection or encryption if it does not
get in my way.  But my final thought is that if the cost is right they will
distribute and we will buy.  Some sort of micro-payment system would just be
icing on the cake.  There have been several who have tried and seem to be
failing.  This may be what saves them.

Thoughts?

Gary


Gary E. Masters
Librarian (Systems)
CDRH - FDA
(301) 827-6893 

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Charles P. Hobbs [SMTP:chhobbs at cdrewu.edu]
	Sent:	Wednesday, March 21, 2001 12:49 PM
	To:	Multiple recipients of list
	Subject:	[WEB4LIB] Re: Death of the Copyright Thread...



	James Cayz wrote:

	>
	> Now, look at CDs.  I can't remember their original prices, but it
wasn't
	> like $50 or $60 - maybe $25?  But, now we have the technology in
place to
	> make a copy (still not perfect), in 15-20 minutes, for maybe $1.
The
	> price of the original are still $15(?), and still 15:1 or higher.
Drop
	> the price of prerecorded CDs to $5 - $7, and I think the
"copyright"
	> problem would disappear.

	The used-CD places such as SecondSpin.com and Wherehouse seem to do
	ok...that's about how much a used CD costs there....Interesting.

	>  Case in point - when was the last time you heard
	> anyone copying an AOL signup CD?  Why Bother?
	>
	> So, those still standing, answer me this - who loses MOST by
lowering the
	> cost of CDs 50%?

	The record companies? There's a list out there showing the division
of
	revenues per CD sold, and they seem to get a lot of it.

	>  And why do you think *they* want to protect their profit
	> margins?

	Like any other for profit institution--they like money coming in?

	--
	Charles P. Hobbs
	King Drew Health Science Library
	http://www.cdrewu.edu/kdhsl