Source: http://kuner.com/historical-materials-on/federal-law-to-regulate-the-3.html
Timestamp: 2017-09-19 18:59:05
Document Index: 153334964

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 26', '§ 4', '§ 11', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 7', '§ 7', '§ 21', '§ 3', '§ 130', '§ 131', '§ 11', '§ 12', '§ 19', '§ 4', '§ 7', '§ 69', '§ 55', '§ 55', '§ 63', '§ 53', '§ 87', '§ 27', '§ 69', '§ 108', '§ 87', '§ 119', '§ 87', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 137', '§ 137', '§ 3', '§ 2']

Federal Law to Regulate the Conditions for Information and Communications Services (IuKDG) ("Multimedia Law"), Final Version, June 29, 1997 | kuner.com
Federal Law to Regulate the Conditions for Information and Communications Services (IuKDG) ("Multimedia Law"), Final Version, June 29, 1997
« Judgment of the Munich Court in the "CompuServe Case" (Somm Case), July 15, 1998
Federal Law to Regulate the Conditions for Information and Communications Services (IuKDG), Final Draft, December 20, 1996 »
Commentary: This is a translation of the final version of the "Multimedia Law" which was approved by the German parliament (Bundestag) on June 13, 1997. It is all but certain that the law will enter into force without further changes; at the time this introduction was written, the only uncertainty was whether the Federal Council (Bundesrat), which is controlled by the opposition parties, would demand that a Consultative Committee (Vermittlungsausschuss) be called, which would result in entry into force being delayed until at least November 1; otherwise, the law is set to enter into force on August 1, 1997.
While it is not possible to give a detailed evaluation of the law here, there has been considerable controversy both in and outside Germany as to whether the "Multimedia Law" is a step forward or whether it represents overregulation which will negatively effect Internet use in Germany. While the government is obviously of the former opinion, a number of companies and legal experts are concerned that the Law has not been properly thought out and represents too much regulation too soon; this is particularly true regarding the distinction between "teleservices" and "media services", the data protection provisions, and the Digital Signature Law (the final version of the Digital Signature Law passed by the Bundestag is available separately on this site).
Changes from the final draft of the Law presented to the Bundestag on December 20, 1996, are marked in boldface. The main changes from the final draft are as follows:
(1) Deletion of the former § 5, para. 3 of the Law Concerning Data Protection in Teleservices. This paragraph would have given the criminal justice and intelligence authorities almost unlimited access to contractual data concerning the use of teleservices, and proved very controversial in Germany.
(2) Major changes to Article 7, which amends German copyright law to implement the EU Database Directive.
(3) Reference in Article 11 to the likely date the Law will enter into force.
(2) Teleservices within para. 1 include, in particular:
3. Offers of content by distribution and access services under § 2 of the Mediendienste-Staatsvertrag of January 20-February 7, 1997, insofar as the main emphasis is on editorial arrangement to influence public opinion.
Teleservices need not be licensed or notified, within the scope of the laws.
1. "Service providers" are natural or legal persons or groups of persons who make teleservices available for use or who provide access for such use;
(3) The service provider may not make the provision of teleservices dependent on consent of the user that his data may be processed or used for other purposes, if access to such teleservices is otherwise impossible or cannot be reasonably expected.
5. the content of the consent can be accessed at any time by the user.
2. any personal data concerning the process of retrieval, access, or any other use are deleted immediately after termination, insofar as any further storage is not necessary for billing purposes;
(2) Processing and use of contractual data for purposes of advising, advertisement, market research or structuring technical facilities of teleservices as needed is only permissible if the user has given his express consent.
(3) A transfer of use or billing data to another service provider or to a third party is not permitted. The powers of the criminal justice authorities shall remain unaffected. A service provider who provides access to the use of teleservices may only transfer the following to other service providers whose teleservices have been used by a particular user:
(4) A service provider that has contracted with a third party concerning billing may transfer billing data to such third party to the extent necessary for this purpose. Such third party shall be obligated to observe the duty of telecommunications secrecy.
(1) Section 38 of the Federal Data Protection Law shall be applicable, with the proviso that any examination may also be made even if grounds for a violation of data protection provisions do not exist.
(2) The Federal Data Protection Officer shall monitor the development of data protection for teleservices and shall report thereon within the scope of his report under § 26, para. 1 of the Federal Data Protection Law.
[A translation of and commentary on the Digital Signature Law are available separately on this site.]
b) In § 4 the words "if at least one copy" are replaced by the words "if a writing (§ 11 para. 3) or at least one copy thereof".
4. Section 184 is amended as follows:
a) In para. 4, the words "or nearly real" are added following the word "actual".
b) In para. 5, sentence 1, the words "or nearly real" are added following the word "actual".
2. Section 119 is amended as follows:
a) In para. 1 no. 2, the words "or by granting public access to data storage mechanisms" are added after the word "representations".
b) In para. 3, a comma and the words "data storage mechanisms" are added after the words "video storage mechanisms."
"(3) Audio and video storage mechanisms, data storage mechanisms, pictures and other representations are equivalent to writings. Broadcast transmissions under § 2 of the Rundfunkstaatsvertrag and offers of content by distribution and access services under § 2 of the Mediendienste-Staatsvertrag of January 20-February 7, 1997 which have their main emphasis on editorial arrangement to influence public opinion do not constitute writings under this Law.".
"4. distributed, made available, or otherwise made accessible by electronic information or communication services."
"Para. 1, no. 4 does not apply if technical measures have been taken so that the offer or dissemination in Germany can be limited to adult users."
4. Section 5, para. 3 is amended as follows:
2. if dissemination to or access by children or minors is excluded by technical or other means."
5. After § 7, the following § 7a is added:
Anyone who in the course of business maintains electronic information and communications services available for use which are based on telecommunications transmission shall appoint a youth protection officer, if such services are generally offered to the public and may contain content harmful to minors. Such person is the contact person for users and advises the service provider in questions relating to the protection of minors. The service provider shall consult with him regarding services offered and structuring the general conditions of usage. He may suggest to the service provider that certain services be restricted. The service provider may also fulfill its duty under sentence 1 by obligating a voluntary self-control organization to fulfill the functions under sentences 2 through 4."
6. The following no. 3a is added following § 21, para. 1, no. 3:
7. Section 18 is amended as follows:
"(1) A writing is covered by the restrictions of §§ 3 to 5 if its content is wholly or mostly identical with a listed writing, without it being necessary that such writing itself be listed and that an announcement be made. The same applies if a court has ruled in a final judgment that a writing is pornographic or contains content covered by § 130, para. 2 or § 131 of the Criminal Code.
(2) If doubt exists whether the requirements of para. 1 are fulfilled, then the chairman shall apply for a decision by the Federal Review Board; an application (§ 11, para. 2, sentence 1) need not be made. § 12 shall apply accordingly.
(3) If a writing is taken into the list, then § 19 shall apply accordingly."
8. Section 18a is deleted.
9. Section 2 is amended as follows:
a) The existing text shall be new para. 1.
b) The following para. 2 shall be added:
"(2) If it is obvious that a listing would be inappropriate, the chairman may terminate the proceedings."
10. Section 21a, para. 1 is amended as follows:
"(1) Anyone doing the following shall be guilty of a misdemeanor:
1. Failing to point out distribution restrictions to a purchaser in violation of § 4, para. 2, sentence 2, or
2. Failing to appoint a Youth Protection Officer or obligating a voluntary self-control organization to fulfill such functions in violation of § 7a, para. 1, sentence 1."
1. Section 4 is amended as follows:
Compilations and Database Works
(1) Collections of works, data, or other independent elements which constitute a personal intellectual creation on account of the selection or structure of their elements (compilations) are protected like independent works, regardless of any copyright or related protective right which may exist in their individual elements.
(2) A database work within the meaning of this law is a compilation, the elements of which are arranged in a systematic or methodical way and individually accessible by electronic or other means. A computer program used to create a database work or to allow access to its elements (§ 69a) is not part of a database work."
2. Section 23, sentence 2 is amended as follows:
a) The word "or" following the word "arts" is replaced by a comma.
b) The words "or concerning the processing or restructuring of a database work" are added following the word "architecture".
3. Section 53 is amended as follows:
a) The following para. 5 is added after para. 4:
"Para. 1 as well as para. 2, nos. 2 to 4 do not apply to database works, the elements of which can be accessed individually by electronic means. Para. 2, no. 1 applies to such database works insofar as scientific use is not carried out for commercial purposes."
b) The existing para. 5 and 6 shall become paras. 6 and 7.
4. The following § 55a is added after § 55:
Use of a Database Work
The processing and reproduction of a database work by the owner of a duplication of the database work which has been placed in circulation by transfer with the author's agreement, by one otherwise entitled to use it, or by one to whom access to a database work is given under a contract with the author or with a third party by the author's consent, is permissible, if and to the extent that such processing and reproduction is necessary for access to the elements of the database work and for its normal usage. If only part of a database work is made accessible according to a contract under sentence 1, then only the processing and reproduction of this part shall be permissible. Any contrary agreements shall be invalid."
5. The following sentence 2 is added after § 63, para. 1, sentence 1:
a) "The same applies under § 53, para. 2, no. 1 and para. 3, no. 1 for the reproduction of a database work."
b) The existing paras. 2 and 3 shall become paras. 3 and 4.
6. The following part is added after § 87:
Protection of the Author of a Database
(1) A database within the meaning of this law is a collection of independent works, data, or other materials arranged in a systematic or methodical way and individually accessible by electronic or other means and the obtaining, verification, or presentation of which requires a substantial investment. Any substantial change, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, to the contents of a database shall qualify it as a new database, to the extent that such change requires a substantial investment, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively.
(2) The author of a database under this Law is the person who carried out the investment under para. 1.
Rights of the Database Author
(1) The author of a database has the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and publicly display the database as a whole or a substantial part thereof, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively. The reproduction, distribution or public display of a substantial part of the database, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, is equivalent to repeated and systematic reproduction, distribution, and public display of insubstantial parts of the database which conflict with normal exploitation of the database or which unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the database author.
(2) Section 17, para. 2 and § 27, paras. 2 and 3 shall apply accordingly.
Limitations on Protection of the Author
(1) Reproduction of a substantial part of a database, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, is permissible:
1. for private purposes, except for a database, the elements of which are individually accessible by electronic means;
2. for private scientific use, if and to the extent that reproduction is appropriate and such use is for non-commercial purposes;
3. for private use in teaching, in non-commercial educational and training facilities, as well as in professional education, in the number necessary for an educational class.
In cases under nos. 2 and 3 the source must be clearly indicated.
(2) The reproduction, distribution and public display of a substantial part of a database, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, is permissible for the purposes of an administrative, arbitration or judicial procedure, or for the purposes of public security.
The rights of the database author expire fifteen years following publication of the database, but in any event fifteen years following completion if the database has not been published within this period. The period shall be calculated under § 69.
Agreements concerning Use of a Database
A contractual agreement under which the the owner of a duplication of a database which has been placed in circulation by transfer with the author's agreement, one otherwise entitled to use it, or one to whom access to a database is granted under a contract with the author or with a third party by the author's consent, agrees with the database author not to reproduce, distribute, or publicly display an insubstantial part of a database, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, is invalid insofar as it neither conflicts with normal exploitation of the database nor unreasonably prejudices the legitimate interests of the database author.
7. In § 108, para. 1, the following number is added after No. 7:
"8. exploits a database in violation of § 87b, para. 2,"
8. In § 119, para. 3, the word "and" following the word "photographs" shall be replaced by a comma, and the words "and databases protected under § 87a" shall be inserted following the words "sound-recording mechanisms".
9. The following § 127a shall be inserted following § 127:
Protection of Database Authors
(1) Protection under § 87b shall apply to German nationals and legal persons with their seat in the area of application of this Law. Section 120, para. 2 shall apply.
(2) Protection under § 87b shall also apply to legal persons established under German law or the law of one of the States listed in § 120, para. 2, no. 2 which do not have their seat in the area of application of this Law, if:
1. their central administration or principal place of business is located within the territory of one of the States listed in § 120, para. 2, no. 2, or
2. their registered seat is located in the territory of one of these States, and their operations are genuinely linked with the German economy or the economy of one of these States.
(3) Otherwise, foreign nationals and legal persons enjoy protection in accordance with international treaties and agreements concluded with third countries by the European Community; such agreements shall be promulgated in the Federal Gazette by the Federal Justice Minister."
10. The following § 137g shall be added following § 137f:
(1) Sections 23, sentence 2; 53, para. 5; 55a; and 63, para. 1, sentence 2 shall also apply to databases created before January 1, 1998.
(2) The provisions of the Sixth Section of the Second Part shall also apply to databases whose creation was completed between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1997. In such cases the term of protection begins on January 1, 1998.
(3) Sections 55a and 87e shall not apply to contracts concluded before January 1, 1998."
"Rules concerning information about the price of continuing services may also be made with regard to electronic information and communications services."
"2. of § 3, para. 1, sentences 1, 2, or 4, or para. 2, in each case also in connection with § 2, para. 5, concerning drawing up, providing, or making available price lists, or concerning the offering of a notice of the price,".
This law enters into force on August 1, 1997, with the exception of Article 7, which enters into force on January 1, 1998.