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Is music the unacceptable face of capitalism?

Lord Mandelson today accused the bankers of being the "unacceptable face of capitalism".  Isn't this somewhat hypocritical, given that he wants the Internet industry to spend £500 million on an electronic fence to protect the rich in the music industry (ie, the Digital Economy Bill)?  Is this acceptable when the country is virtually  bankrupt?

A quick search of the Sunday Times rich list produces a veritable catalogue of rich musicians. These are the beneficiaries of the graduated response and website blocking measures proposed by Lord Mandelson in the Digital Economy Bill.

Estimates of the cost of Lord Mandelson's measures have been as high as £500 million. Moreover, the actual cost is not known, because ISPs will have to invest in new infrastructure to implement the measures in the Digital Economy Bill. That will take away money from investment in the broadband fibre network. And the Internet users will have to pay for it in increased subscription charges, as well as the threat to their rights to freedom of expression.  

Moreover, an article in the Daily Telegraph today says that it will cost consumers £300 million as they will have to buy additional IT equipment to meet the obligation in Clause 14 of the bill to protect their Internet access. 

I've pasted a sample of the  the Sunday Times Rich list below, from the search results for musicians and others who have made their money from music: 

Rank Name Worth Source of wealth
28= Clive Calder £1,300m Music
       
52= Lord Lloyd-Webber £750m Entertainment, Music
120= Sir Paul McCartney £440m Music
146= Sir Cameron Mackintosh £350m Entertainment, Music
178= Simon Fuller £300m Entertainment, Music
297= Sir Mick Jagger £190m Music
309= Sting £180m Music
322= Keith Richards £175m Music
322= Sir Elton John £175m Music
333= Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas £170m Films
388= Olivia and Dhani Harrison £140m Inheritance, Music
388= Sir Tim Rice £140m Music
406= Jamie Palumbo £130m Entertainment, Music
406= Sir Tom Jones £130m Music
426= David and Victoria Beckham £125m Football, Fashion, Music
438= Eric Clapton £120m Music
438= Ringo Starr £120m Music
438= Simon Cowell £120m Music
492= Barry and Robin Gibb £110m Music
503= Phil Collins £108m Music

To view the full list, go to The Sunday Times Rich List search page and type "music" in the search box.  

Lord Mandelson's comments were reported by The Times

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About Iptegrity

Iptegrity.com is the website of Dr Monica Horten, independent policy advisor: online safety, technology and human rights. Advocating to protect the rights of the majority of law abiding citizens online. Independent expert on the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on online safety and empowerment of content creators and users.  Published author, and post-doctoral scholar, with a PhD from the University of Westminster, and a DipM from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.  Former telecoms journalist,  experienced panelist and Chair, cited in the media eg  BBC, iNews, Times, Guardian and Politico.

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