German p2p law ‘criminalizes playgrounds’
p2pnet news | p2p:- School playgrounds in Germany are being “criminalized” by the country’s new copyright laws, accuse critics.
Most members of the Bundestag voted in favor of the government’s controversial proposal for a second version of the country’s Copyright Act for the Information Society, says Heise Online.
The amendments “make the Copyright Act ready for the digital future,” believes minister of justice Brigitte Zypries, says the story.
But Petra Sitte of the Left Party doesn’t see it like that, accusing the governing coalition of having “lost sight of the interests of researchers and educators”.
She’s afraid access to knowledge will become more expensive, the story states, going on, “Jerzy Montag of the Greens argued along the same lines, saying that consumers cannot exercise their right to private copies when systems such as Digital Rights Management (DRM) are implemented.”
The two also say, “school playgrounds are being criminalized’ because the clause which made the sharing of files in P2P networks a minor offense has been deleted, says Heise.
The new legislation, “focuses on compensation fees for private copies, which industry and copyright representatives are to be able to set independently,” it says.
“At the same time, the possibilities for private copies to be taken from file-sharing systems will also be restricted by means of a ban on copies from ‘illegal sources.’ Other items include restrictive regulations on electronic reading stations in libraries, museums, and archives in addition to new restrictions on the sending of digital copies. Furthermore, a regulation will be added to take account of future ways of using works of art that had not yet become clear when the bill was adopted.”
CDU MP Günter Krings (above right) repeated the music industry line that “Internet piracy” is “one of the largest attacks” on Germany’s national economy, the story says, quoting him as saying jobs have already been lost in the music industry, and the movie industry faced the same challenge.
But not to worry, Krings said: “the legal system was not going to capitulate” He also suggested the Copyright Act should be further amended, “so only copies of the original would be admissible”.
“There must be an end to the freebie mentality in our society,” Heise has him declaring.
Also See:
Heise Online - German parliament passes new Copyright Act, July 6, 2007
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July 9th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
governments are meant to reflect the views of the people. if most under 30 believe copyright law is flawed then when this group of people make up the voting majority we will see change.
until then support the EFF or your local equivalent and contact your local politician (if they arnt aware that so many people are apposed to intellectual property then they will not act)
July 9th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
““There must be an end to the freebie mentality in our society,” Heise has him declaring.”
Good idea. Lets start by pasing laws to prohibit parents and governments from providing free meals, eductaion and health care to all children. All the free stuff kids get can only foment the prevalent freeby mentality.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
FOrd, the automobile company once wanted to create “The American Car” in a nutshell they wanted to add in all the features that the Americans wanted and perferred to have in their cars. The car was a huge flop. But why? It was the “all American” car. Well Ford never bothered to actually ask people want they wanted, instead they told the Americans what they should want, but it didnt work and Ford was the loser here. This is the same thing that the MPAA/RIAA/BSA/BREIN/any other dumbass cartel are doing, instead of giving what the consumers want they restricting their rights to the most insane amount, if not, virtually attempting to make them their slaves. But it wont happen so eventually the cartels will suffer their own predicted losses of trillions and trillions of dollars (did i say trillions? oh well its millions but larger number is way better)
July 9th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
People do have power. Remember all big business wanted software patents in Europe.
It never happen, but why?
People power
Software patents are still not valid in Europe.