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Germany's Version of DMCA/DRM
ribbiting writes "Germany has prepared the first draft of legislation (in German) to implement the provisions of the EU version of the DMCA/DRM. Aside from the well-known issues, this draft specifically requires that private copies also require some form of payment to GEMA, the German version of RIAA, regardless if the copying process is using digital or analog technology. DRM technologies are explicitly protected/encouraged by this legislation. The law also "clarifies" that people do NOT have a legal right to fair use, ie making copies for their own use. Pre-payments of royalties are required by levying taxes on media (how about paper?!?) and any device that could be used for copying (HP is in a major legal battle with GEMA about royalties on CD-burners). The article does not state if/how individuals are to pay GEMA for the actual copies they make." Google's translation is useful if your German is a little rusty.
Um, this isn't Americanism, this is greed. Greed was well established in Germany generations ago. Part of the nonsense with the Jews was that Aryans wanted more for them and less for the Jews. And the Jews were/are more than happy to create their own insular culture that supports the advancement of Jews only. (This ain't a racist statement unless you can prove that behaviors such as this are a product of genetics rather than choices.)
Of course, greed has been around even longer. There were rail barons in the late 19th century, and before then there were various European empires that fed by conquering other nations, and before that there were various Asian empires, etc., ad nauseum.
Homosexuals are an abominition of man, why wouldn't there be laws discriminating against them? Where were the laws protecting the Jews, huh?