DMCA, Auf Deutsch

Kavau writes "The lower house of the German parliament just passed an amendment to the copyright law (sorry, article in German only). The highly controversial law will severely limit consumers' rights to make private copies of copyrighted media, and imposes special taxes on virtually any device that can potentially be used for copyright circumvention (among these devices are printers, CD burners, scanners and cell phones). Also, circumvention of copyright protection mechanisms will become illegal, as it already is in the United States." There's a short blurb (in English) at the Register Update: 04/13 19:20 GMT by T : [Sorry, actually it's The Inquirer]; note that this has passed the lower house of the German parliament, but has not yet been voted on by the upper.

Kavau continues: "The law does not directly prohibit the fabrication of private copies, but it offers the copyright holder the right to do just that. And we probably can expect the majority of copyright holders to make use of this right. The law simply takes away what US citizens would call the consumer's right to fair use. An exception is made for schools and research institutes, which may provide excerpts of copyrighted media to a group students or researchers.

One of the most important maxims of European law is "in dubio pro reo" (if in doubt, rule in favor of the defendant). While this principle applies to the judicature, and we are talking about the legislature here, the new law nevertheless seems to have perverted this principle: it treats every computer owner as a potential copyright pirate. Thank you, government, for the trust you are showing in your citizens! What's next? Special taxes on pen and paper? Note also that we are likely going to see similar laws in other European countries soon. The law follows guidelines imposed by the European Union in 2001."

Comments

Re:The Upper House is effectively a formality

[Bradee-oh!]

Where's the "+1 Interesting, yet Highly Unfortunate" modifier? :(

Dead Kenedys eat your heart out.

[twitter]

Jerry Brown might have wanted California Uber Ales, but it looks like Hollywood over all.

Re:Great

[Anonymous Coward]

obviously, since only pirates need parrots. We need to outlaw wooden legs and eye patches as well.

Re:Well

[ConsumedByTV]

You fucking idiot. Germany is more free than most of the world today.

Read a fucking history book or better yet, go visit Berlin.

Asshole.

Re:Interesting developments...

[Safety Cap]

~ remember that some countries really *do* have brutal regimes.

Yes, some rogue nations have brutal regimes that violate world-wide standards of decency.