The digital world has opened up new opportunities for creators, entrepreneurs, and consumers to enjoy cultural goods and access knowledge, books, movies, or music on an unprecedented scale. However, it raises questions about the regulatory framework for the distribution of these goods. How to strike a balance while safeguarding the interests of consumers, but also of entrepreneurs and authors? Participants in the debate, “Culture 2.0: authors, business, and consumers in a digital reality,” sought answers to this question.
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Zdaniem części panelistów przyniesie ona wzrost cen sprzętu.
Two important regulations are in play today: the Professional Artists Act and the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. The attention of the panellists focused on the draft of the first one, which is currently being processed. It has a noble aim – to help artists in hardship and fund their pensions. However, there is controversy over where the money will come from. In the draft, the private copying levy is back extended to electronic devices, such as televisions, tablets, e-books or laptops, and perhaps smartphones. It is expected to range from 1–4% of the gross price of the equipment, with 4% being more likely in most cases.
A blow to Poland’s electronics distribution sector
Michał Kanownik, President of Związek Cyfrowa Polska [Digital Poland Association], warned that the introduction of the law and the levy in its current form will result in higher prices for electronics in Poland. According to him, the margins of manufacturers and distributors are already so low that they will not be able to take the additional levy on themselves. M. Kanownik cited evidence of this, i.e. the large companies in this sector make only 2% margin on notebook production and only 0.5–0.8% on distribution in Poland.
According to Tomasz Wróblewski, President of the Warsaw Enterprise Institute, there is no way that costs will rise and no one will pay for it, there is no such miracle in the market. Also according to him, prices in Germany and even in the US are the same as in Poland.