Germany's Version of DMCA/DRM 26
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.
Google's Translation (Score:2)
How to explain this to unknowing people (Score:1)
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.
Re:How to explain this to unknowing people (Score:3, Insightful)
They really do think that laws like this won't pass because "the people won't stand for it" or "politicians aren't that stupid". They've literally thrown me in with the "black helicopter" crowd. Maybe when the CBDTPA becomes law, they'll finally realize what I've been saying all this time. Of course, by then, it'll be too late.
Obligatory joke (Score:2, Funny)
[Cue laugh track.]
Re:How to explain this to unknowing people (Score:2, Informative)
issue, easy for everyone to understand
I hoped this article to make it on the
frontpage, but there are only 10
comments currently.
You can mail me at machuidel@NOSPAMyahoo.com
without the NOSPAM of course
Re:How to explain this to unknowing people (Score:1)
would make it on the frontpage, better!
And the site will be in English, French,
German and Dutch.
I didn't know about spelling control on slashdot,
I found an error in your comment as well, never
put "commas" before "and"
Re:How to explain this to unknowing people (Score:1)
How bad this will get... (Score:2, Informative)
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.
Re:How bad this will get... (Score:1)
unless they bring about four million plus their
number jobs with them
Speaking of which, it is quite hard to find not
even a job nowadays, but even places to learn
(Ausbildungsstelle for those who can understand German,
I don't know the word right now).
Hey, It's Germany (Score:1)
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..
dont' be a bigot (Score:1)
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.
Re:Hey, It's Germany (Score:1)
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.
LOL
probably you should come over to germany and look around before writing such a bullshit.
You pay a kind of tax for empty media, like tapes and CD-Rs.
You can then copy on them what you like. We do not need "fair use" laws. As our copyright law is not that stupid like the US version.
I can copy EVERYTHING, as long as I pay a fee to the athor depending on the amount I copy.
However I my not PUBLISH it without permission of the author.
Citation is allowed for free, of course.
Regards,
angel'o'sphere
P.S. the
P.S.S.
In Europe a company is liable for 2 years for goods it sells. I do not need a savety back up of a music CD. I get a new one for free if the old one fails.
Not SO bad... (Score:2, Insightful)
Ok, this sucks. But the advantage is that it is written in the law [celog.fr] (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...