Germany Makes HP Pay Anti-Piracy Fee New Law Targets CD-Burner Makers Byron Alley
A new German law requires firms to pay a fee for the right to make CD burners. The new law, enacted to counter a trend in illegally copied CDs, aroused much controversy. Critics say the manufacturers should not be made to pay for the activities of the consumers, since CD burners are also used for completely legal activities, including backup storage and media recording.
Many of Germany's neighbors, including France, Italy and Greece, have similar laws meant to protect authors and musicians by nailing makers of equipment used to violate copyright laws. But the laws date back decades and focus on devices like tape recorders and video players.
The German case against Hewlett-Packard extends Germany's pre-existing law into the digital age, when such things as CD burners, computer printers, hard drives and high-speed modems make it easier to copy and transfer copyrighted items.
