Dr. Martin Schaefer discusses “Netzsperre” or Internet blocking in “musikmarkt” magazine.

In volume 15/2011 of the music magazine “musikmarkt” BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partner Dr. Martin Schaefer comments on a key problem for the music industry. Despite increasing legal online music sales, the overall problem is still not solved. In the case of unpermitted music offers which cannot be suppressed at the source, other methods must be employed to ensure they cannot be used, and this with the help of Internet access providers too. To what degree providers can be requested and obliged to help in such suppression is part of the discussion. It is technically feasible in several different ways. Within the scope of the debate about possibilities for cooperation by providers, the term “Netzsperre” or Internet blocking creates confusion with its continuing lack of precise definition. It can refer to the locking of individual user accounts through to blocking of entire domains. One thing is sure however according to Dr. Schaefer: “The political course set regarding the fundamental obligations of providers to participate in the prevention of legal infringements when they have ‘nothing to do with’ these infringements will be a decisive element in the further development of the content industries.