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Music site ends German business on a sour note
Published: 19 Jan 12 11:59 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120119-40209.html
A free online music streaming service, Grooveshark, has closed its German operations, saying the music industry is charging too much for access to songs.
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Around 30 million people use the services across the world, streaming music over the internet without paying. Those in Germany, about 6 million, are now blocked.
“Due to unreasonably high operating costs, Grooveshark is discontinuing access from Germany,” the firm wrote, urging users to contact GEMA directly to complain.
GEMA announced increased licensing prices for services such as Grooveshark last month – after agreeing to a licensing framework with Bitkom, which represents high-tech companies, including various music streaming services.
Many videos featuring music posted onto video sharing website Youtube are blocked in Germany because GEMA views them as violating copyright laws.
As is already common for Youtube, some German internet users are likely to turn to IP masking services to use Grooveshark.
Another option in Germany to stream music free, Simfy, allows users to stream music for a few hours per month before imposing a subscription fee.
In a statement responding to “accusations from Grooveshark,” GEMA said it had not been in discussions with the service and accused it of refusing to pay any licensing fees at all.
Grooveshark, which was launched in the United States 2007, has been locked in multiple copyright disputes with music publishers worldwide – it has been accused of not paying licensing fees and featuring music it doesn’t have the rights to. Apple has banished its iPhone app from its store and it is currently embroiled in lawsuits with many major music publishers.
The Local/mdm
External link: Grooveshark »
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Your comments about this article:
You cannot treat the internet like Radio/Public Broadcast/TV with a blanket 'one-size fits all' approach. Youtube offers owners of IP to create their own channel, upload their own content and receive income from content views. It also allows then to issue take-down notices of IP breaches.
GEMA is asking too much from web companies and in fact can actually be hindering the success of many artists - the ones that use such free services to try and reach as many people as possible, as opposed to crossing their fingers and hoping that Universal will pick them up and promote them, then that single/album sell well so that they wont be dumped.
Germany seeking a superstar will run and run because you will not find one if you stop any new or different things being heard or seen.
@boopsie
I understand and agree with people earning for their work but blocking is not the answer ,I would ask where on mainstream German t.v. are the pop shows or videos being shown? m.t.v. is pay to view so where is the showcase for new talent?
Spotify can't reach a deal with GEMA, so we probably wont be able to have that either.
Just check out the BIG NEWS from Media Markt - they now have an online store!!! Wow 10 years or more after Amazon.
I can't decide if you are completely clueless, or just trolling.