Aussies make CD ripping, a common practice, legal!

It seems so simple: Make copying television shows and CDs (for personal use) legal. I mean, making this act legal does not make sharing the files legal. Nor does it make downloading files improperly (without obtaining a license through purchase or explicit permission) legal. It makes using devices like PVRs and iPods legal. That's it! People still have to buy cable and CDs, they can just do more with the product. I can see why TV producers have a hard time with the concept: their money is made on ads, and simple recordings allow the viewer to skip past these ads. But the sellers of CDs should have no problem with this. It increases the utility of their product, which should promote a subsequent increase in demand for the product.

Yeah yeah, I know all the arguments that if people rip they will share. Well, that isn't the point is it? The point is whether banning ripping has a significant and effective impact on copyright infringement with respect to the loss of utility caused by the ban. Since all it takes is one person to break the law to seed the file-sharing networks, the answer is obvious. This is not an effective means to promoting the legitimate market for copyrighted material. I'm happy to be in a country that recognizes this.

The question remains whether they will levy a tax on devices that have potential for infringement. I'm against this approach also, because I think it distorts the market for consumer electronics. If someone has a convincing argument to the contrary, I'd love to hear it.