Copyright law has crushed consumer rights for digital media such as music downloads, according to German consumer group VZBV, which has launched a major campaign on the issue. The group has vowed to petition the German government to change copyright law, focusing its letters and emails on justice minister Brigitte Zypries and consumer protection minister Horst Seehofer.
VZBV’s issued a report that reveals consumers have practically no rights in the digital world thanks to copy-protected systems, licensing rules and loopholes in copyright law. The study underlined the use of digital rights mechanisms and copy protection systems that disrupt operating systems and cause security and data protection risks.
“Conditions for use, copy-protected systems, and a copyright law full of loopholes have led to a lawless environment for consumers in the digital world”, said VZBV’s Patrick von Braunmuehl. “In addition, many providers of digital media lack customer orientation. Our study shows that existing consumer rights are ignored by providers”.
VZBV slammed the German government for effectively allowing media companies like iTunes and Deutsche Telekom to decide whether consumers can make private copies of digital files. And it said planned amendments to the copyright law could worsen the situation for users. The group warned of a flood of claims from providers and expensive lawyers’ bills for the parents of underage Internet users.
