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DMCA, Auf Deutsch

Posted by timothy on from the urheberrechtsgesetz dept.

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."

2 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Which paper? by BitHive · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Who cares? They're both red and white and start with "the".

  2. More Lies! by Mohamm3d+Al-Sahaf · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Music is not illegal.

    The RIAA is burning in their tanks, and commiting suicide.

    The P.O.W.s were not rescued today, more Hollywood lies.

    Our victory will be apparent soon.

    You are safe now. Trust me.

    --
    -yours truely Mohamm3d Al-Sahaf