Many neighbouring countries of Germany have similar laws
protecting authors and musicians from violating copyright laws,
however these focus on tape recorders and video players. Germany
has extended its law into the ‘digital age’ by controlling CD
burners, hard drives, printers and high-speed modems that make for
easy copying and transferring of copyrighted items.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
suggests that there are in the region of 500 million CDs pirated by
people creating and downloading their own CDs.
Germany’s main licensing group GEMA used Hewlett-Packard as a
test case in May because of its status as market leader in CD
burners. Following a dispute with the company, the two parties
reached an agreement last Thursday, requiring Hewlett-Packard to
pay 12DM (£3.66) per machine sold in the future in addition to a
sum for past sales. Further companies in Germany selling CD burners
will also pay fees depending on their agreement with GEMA. These
fees are to be distributed by GEMA to copyright owners through
recording houses and music distributors.
Reactionary arguments to this decision are that it does not take
into account those with legitimate reasons for copying, while
creating complications for hardware manufacturers in Europe.
