The first national multimedia law — How Germany regulates online services and the internet

✍ Scribed by Ulrich Wuermeling

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 474 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0267-3649
• DOI: 10.1016/s0267-3649(97)88076-4

✦ Synopsis

On 1 August 1997 the new Federal and State Multimedia law of Germany came into force. The Federal law regulates the conditions for information and communication services and the harmonized State laws regulate media services. The legislation deals with issues like criminal and civil law responsibilities, privacy, digital signature, copyright and press law. Although the aim of the new law is to clarify the legal framework, the author argues that the law causes a number of new legal uncertainties. The German Government also promotes the general idea of the new law as model regulation for multimedia on an international level. On 8 July 1997 ministers of 29 European countries responded to an invitation of the German Government and the European Commission. They agreed on the so-called Bonner Declaration which called for regulation of online services and the Intemet.