The Local Germany

'Our parents told of the Berlin Wall. We'll tell of GEMA deal'

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 17:18:02 +0100

Germans could scarcely contain their joy on Tuesday, as social and traditional media alike were abuzz at news that once-blocked pop music would now be available on YouTube.

YouTubers rejoice: GEMA lifts block on YouTube videos

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 10:24:13 +0100

YouTube viewers in Germany will now be able to watch the videos once blocked by performing rights organization GEMA after the two parties came to a licensing agreement.

Video deal frees up music streaming

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:26:00 +0200

Internet users in Germany will find it easier to watch music videos online after a deal was signed on Monday.

Amazon, gay adoption, Eurovision, and GEMA

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:05:00 +0100

In this week's Weekly News Podcast, Ben Knight delves into bullying at Amazon, gay adoption rights, Eurovision's techno-pop plagiarism scandal, and how killjoys at GEMA are keeping the elderly from dancing.

Royalties agency GEMA kills off senior tea dance

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:30:00 +0100

A group of pensioners have seen their tea dance cancelled thanks to Germany's deeply unpopular music royalties collection agency GEMA, which said the hotel hosting the free monthly event had to triple its payments.

YouTube puts Germany into digital dark ages

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:22:00 +0100

YouTube’s dispute with Germany’s music rights authority GEMA has resulted in the country being cut off from more than 60 percent of the website’s most popular videos, according to a new analysis.

GEMA demands YouTube pay €1.6 mln in damages

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:01:00 +0100

Germany's music royalties authority GEMA has declared that negotiations with YouTube have broken down, and wants to haul the internet video platform before the arbitration board at the German Patent and Trademark Office.

GEMA faces march of the angry clubbers

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:06:00 +0200

Thousands of club and disco owners took to the streets on Thursday to protest a proposed hike in charges by Germany's music royalty organization GEMA - which sent an angry email to its members in response.

New royalties charges threaten Berlin clubs

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:23:00 +0200

New music licence fees could threaten the livelihood of Berlin's legendary all-night clubs, or drive them underground in a return to the heady post-Wall 1990s, the city's tourism body said Wednesday.

Nightclubs pull plug in license fee protest

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:00:00 +0200

Up to 600 clubs and bars in Germany will turn off the music for five minutes on Saturday in protest at plans to increase music licensing fees.

Hacker collective mocks cops after raids

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:03:00 +0200

Internet activist collective Anonymous released a video on Sunday evening ridiculing the police's latest raids against the group across Germany.

Court: YouTube liable for copyright breaches

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:51:00 +0200

A German court ruled on Friday that Google's video sharing service YouTube is responsible when users post copyrighted music clips without permission. The decision could cost YouTube millions in royalties.

Music site ends German business on a sour note

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:59:00 +0100

A free online music streaming service, Grooveshark, has closed its German operations, saying the music industry is charging too much for access to songs.

Website of music copyright watchdog GEMA hacked

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:17:00 +0200

The website of GEMA, Germany’s music copyright watchdog, has been hacked amid an ongoing dispute over royalties with the video portal YouTube.

Kindergartens told to pay up before singing

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:05:00 +0100

A group representing German musicians found itself accused of Scrooge-like meanness on Tuesday after pressing kindergartens to pay up for singing songs that are protected by copyright.

YouTube blocks music videos on German site in licensing tiff

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:49:00 +0200

German music fans hoping to catch their idols' latest hits on video-sharing website YouTube are set for disappointment since the site has blocked premium music videos over a licensing dispute.