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From: karn@allegra.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: Supreme court rules on VCRs
Message-ID: <2223@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Jan-84 03:42:41 EST
Article-I.D.: allegra.2223
Posted: Thu Jan 19 03:42:41 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Jan-84 01:39:48 EST
References: <459@pucc-h>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 20

Yes, Jack Valenti certainly has been making the rounds.  He is quite
angry that he can't have his cake and eat it too.

I'm curious to know what will happen next. Let's say Jack has his way
with Congress, who legislates a $100/vcr and $1/tape tax, payable to the
"motion picture industry", whatever that is.  Since when does the
government serve as a "tax" revenue collection agency for a private business?
What if I go to court and say that I never watch broadcast TV, that I
bought my VCR and tapes just to record my 1 year old daughter as she
babbles across the room (assuming of course that I HAD a daughter...)?

By the kind of logic Mr. Valenti uses, I'm "stealing" every day from the
big, benevolent TV producers because I almost never spend my money on things
advertised on TV.

The battle isn't won yet. I suggest that people who feel strongly about
this issue write their congressmen, since they are certainly going to
hear about this issue from those you may not agree with.

Phil