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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.
The hardest question in relation to the Middle East conflict is how the global community should perceive the world-changing events in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
A brief history of the past decade
In 1993, Israel and Palestine signed the 'Oslo Accords', both sides admitting they were wrong, and vowing to make amends. This was a historic occasion for World Peace, made most significant by the 'Doomsday Clock' being moved back to 15 minutes to midnight. (I'm afraid I do not have the link here, so use Google)
What followed surprised and shocked every decent living person in the important countries. Whereas most right-thinking folk would regard a cessation of hostilities to be a sign of hope, the Palestinian terrorists began their perpetual waves of suicide bombings.
This can be traced back to one root cause. Islam. The Koran teaches muslims that when an enemy yields, they should be struck down for good. Israel yielded. Israel admitted they made mistakes. Israel offered the olive branch...
Only to have their hand cut off in the name of 'allah'. Repeatedly, Israel tried diplomacy, attempted to rescue some kind of peace out of the accords, now strewn in tatters across the broken bodies of Jewish civilians. Their reward? More violence. More terrorism.
It is the nature of muslims to destroy. Their beliefs are systematically geared towards the eradication of all non-muslim life on the planet. Presuming their religion to be peaceful and productive, like Sikhism, Hinduism and even Judaism, the western authorities let this cancer spread.
Israel faced a perpetual struggle, both within and outside its borders. For each attempt at rightful defence was rebuked by condemnation from the World Council. In the end, something had to be done. And Israel began fighting back.
What followed was a tit-for-tat exchange of hostilities. Israel advanced. The Palestinians capitulated. Peace was discussed. Israel withdrew. And then the Palestinians attacked again. A perpetual cycle of hatred.
The Israelite Jew is an embittered, harrowed person. Even though they may not agree with the actions of their government, they are perpetual targets of Islamo-racist terrorism. But at least they still have the right to disagree.
Islam does not permit disagreement with the holy jihad which their deluded sub-human footsoldiers are playing out every time they throw a grenade into a Jewish schoolyard.
So, where should the global community stand? Clearly, Islamic terrorism is a world-wide crisis. Be it in New York, France, or the streets of Britain during last year's rioting. Where should we stand? Ask yourself this:
How many countries lost citizens in the name of Islam on September 11th, 2001?
"Why did they cancel my favorite Sci-Fi show? I downloaded ALL the episodes!"
here
Make even shorter URLs - 8LN.org
I've been trying to explain most of the
things like the DMCA, SSSCA / CBDTPA and
software patents to (regular) people.
The problem is that they don't seem to
understand and think I'm talking "bullshit",
and the governments (USA, EU) are not that
dumb to allow laws like this (even though,
software patents and the DMCA are already
active).
After showing them some websites they still
don't understand (as it's too difficult for
them to understand) and think I'm paranoid.
These are the:
- how more expensive how better
- and if that less people are doing/using it it
cannot be good
- I do what most people do, cause that's in the mode
- if someone is different than me, he's stupid
- I only know what I know and nothing more
kind of people
And it's a pitty these kind of people are
the majority, so please don't flame me by
saying this, cause it's just what I noticed.
Anyway, can someone please tell me where
I can find an easy explanation of these laws
for everyone to understand.
Mike Machuidel
I fear more and more Americanism get imported to
Germany. If this gets through, rights that were
deeply ingrained into our behaviour change, and
no one will be able to see what's next...
I found that Symlink (http://www.symlink.ch/) has
an article of a member of the German Party SPD
covering this very topic. See there if you understand
German, the article is from this week - dunno
exactly.
Symlink is quite a nice Slashdot on German.
My Karma isn't excellent, damn it! (And
We'll have to pay royalties if we want to sing along to our car stereo.
This is not a slam, but German society seems really big on having lots of restrictive laws. Having to pay to make a copy (of any type) fits right in with that mindset. Lots of activities that can be engaged in freely in the US seem to require permission or an actual license from the government before they may be done in Germany.
I'm sure German readers who think for a moment will be able to identify specific examples (why don't you see any lowriders on the autobahn?) - but remember I'm not trying to start a flamewar..
You either believe in rational thought or you don't
[Cue laugh track.]
Ok, this sucks. But the advantage is that it is written in the law (sorry, it's a French law, so it HAS to be in French) that in return for the taxes, people HAS LEGAL RIGHTS for what is called "fair use" in US, meaning :
So, somehow, we pay for those rights. But this means that RIAA or SACEM (french) could'nt have the money WITHOUT letting us those rights. So, I think that it's not so bad...
this may seem slightly offtopic, but: What could you POSSIBLY have against homosexuals. They're just people who are attracted to their gender, not the opposite gender.
Now, let's imagine a hypothetical friend of mine decides to form a group which runs a plane into two buildings in.. say.. Germany.. and says this is done "in the name of America".
By your logic, whether all Americans agree that it is their will or not, America is now directly responsible for the death of a few thousand Germans.
So, by the argument accompanying your logic...
Total War. The only form of human interaction that has any honesty!
"Why did they cancel my favorite Sci-Fi show? I downloaded ALL the episodes!"
With the music industry making more money year over year, how can they justify controlling you with hidden code in order to protect profits? The answer my fellow brother is it is only an exuse. The real goal of "anti-piracy" technology is cesorship. One only needs to look at how the Jews control the media/entertainment business as well as having powerful lobbyist to implement "their laws" on humanity.
The "Jews" are running the show now, and you would *think* that they would have learned a lesson in history; however it is appearent the reason they are still hated today, is their corrosive influence on society.
--Only a "jew" would write a book called "limits to freedom"