While I understand COTT has a duty to ensure that the local music and movie industries do not suffer at the hands of "pirates" who do them a grave injustice, I can't understand why they would want to charge DVD store owners for selling international movies.
It may be easy for some people like myself to go to the movies but there are some who, for one reason or the other, would not venture into a cinema but would watch it on a DVD player, such as some elderly people I know who religiously frequent DVD stores to get movies for the month when they get their pension.
They have drivers who would take them around for them to do their errands in the day as they don't go out in the night due to the rural distance they live. They may not really like going to cinema but prefer to watch movies in the safety, convenience and comfort of their own homes.
Then there are those who may have just had surgery and are currently immobile and want to view the new shows that have come out in the cinemas. Then there are some who don't go to cinema for religious reasons.
What would happen to these people and others like them, who for a variety of reasons can't and who don't go to the cinema? Is COTT going to deny these people in their old age, or the infirm or immobile who may be at home or hospitalised, the simple privilege of watching a DVD?
I think there is need to take into consideration other people who can't or don't go to cinema with this new legislation.
Sharma Ramdass
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