Copyright Police Want Belgian Truck Drivers To Have Licensed Cab Music

Another 'Only in Belgium' story....

The Belgian music royalty collecting agency SABAM has once again stepped up to enforce their strict copyright regime. After collecting money for fake artists and forgetting to pay out to real ones, they are now targeting truck drivers who listen to music in their cabs without an appropriate license.

This week SABAM made the headlines once again, this time claiming money from truck drivers who listen to music in their cabs. Since a truck’s cab is a place of work the drivers are obliged to pay royalty fees, they argue. Those are simply the rules according to the copyright police, but not everyone agrees.

“It’s utter nonsense,” said Maggie De Block, member of the Belgian Parliament in a response to the claim. “The truck drivers don’t need the radio so much for playing music, but for their safety. So it is illogical that they should pay for it.”

Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne is not backing the theory of the copyright police either. He said that listening to radio is essential for truckers and noted that above all, a truck’s cab is an intimate space.

Angered by the responses from these politicians, SABAM said that they have the right to claim money from anyone who listens to music while working. The copyright collectors refer to an agreement they have with Minister Van Quickenborne which allows them to charge anyone, anytime. Whether they are in an office or a truck cab makes no difference, they say.

The safety argument doesn’t impress SABAM either, as they claim truck drivers still profit from listening to ‘free’ music when the radio is on.

Although SABAM might be right while following the letter of the law, the above example and numerous others where small businesses or non-profits have been hunted down in the past do not help them to maintain a good public image. We also wonder if the artists are very happy with such a strict copyright regime.

But then again, someone has to pay for the luxurious furniture at the SABAM offices, and the generous salaries these copyright crusaders enjoy. Piggybacking on the creations of musicians is big business after all.

Belgium has a new government!

Belgium has a new Federal Government today. King Albert has sworn in the new five party administration. This afternoon Prime Minister Yves Leterme will deliver his government’s policy statement in Parliament.
Here's a picture of the motley crew, somebody help us!
"the only merit of this government is that it is a government " (Het Nieuwsblad)

George Bush's popularity ratings would be sky high in Belgium!

George Bush's popularity rating would look pretty good in Belgium, where an opinion poll for the daily La Libre Belgique showed that 54 percent of the north and 92 percent of the south did not trust the new Belgian prime minister.

Belgium Political Crisis Ends With New Government. Belgium's rival parties say they have agreed to a new government, ending months of deadlock over demands for greater autonomy by the Dutch-speaking part of the country.

The deal for a coalition government was reached by five Belgian political parties representing not only political differences - between the left and the right - but the key split between those from Francophone Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders.

Here's another "Only in Belgium"

On one hand you have the 4 stooges promoting investment in Belgium..., on the other, they are regulating national treasures to death.

They make the best chips in the world. But the traditional huts that sell perfect pomme frites in public squares and car parks across Belgium are battling against death by overregulation. STORY IN THE TIMES

Ever greater demands to account for hygiene, stock and staff have led to the numbers of genuine street frietkots tumbling from 5,000 to around 1,200 over the past two decades.

What color is the sky in their world? "ONLY IN BELGIUM"

PM Guy Verhofstadt, flanked by Belgium's regional Premiers on Monday launched the promotion campaign "Only in Belgium". I'm sorry to break it to these guys....but that phrase is already in use. It usually follows any number of jokes about this country.
The idea is to sell Belgium as an investment country abroad. Probably because even the Belgians are smart enough to invest somewhere else.

The campaign is necessary because the political bickering at home in recent months has damaged our reputation. (or exposed it...) Flemish Premier Kris Peeters insisted that we should leave times of complaining behind us and strive for excellence.
When people talk about Belgium we should seize the opportunity to promote our stabile and booming open economy our leaders say.
Don't you just love it when politicians have shit coming out of both sides of their mouth?