PROGRESSIVE COPYRIGHT TAXATION

Covid pointed to a long-standing copyright problem. Copyright does not allow for the mass production of vaccines, and hundreds of thousands of people are dying around the world as a result. Finally, this is not a new problem. Moreover, copyright protection is a non-market element.

Of course, the author is entitled to protection of the work. But at the same time, it is property, just like real estate, and it is subject to taxation. That is why progressive taxation of copyright is the solution.

The EU can create a catalogue of copyrights that will be subject to protection in the EU countries. Each owner of the subject of copyright protection will describe it and determine its price. At that price, anyone in the EU can buy the work and use it. A tax would also be set on the determined price. The tax percentage would increase with each additional year of protection of the work. When the tax ends, so does the protection of the work.

The author can adjust the price of the work. The tax would be symbolic for the first year - for example €10. From the second year 0.1% of the value of the work, the third year 1%, the fourth year 2%, etc.

Of course, there is more to think about. The question is what is part of the work, because part of the work is also subject to protection. In the case of a book, is it a letter, a word or a sentence? In music, is it a note or several notes? Then how many?