Largest German Movie Studio Wants $1000 for Each Movie Downloaded by Each File Sharer
Constantin Film may get 'inspired' to also go after file shares from other countries
Achtung! The so-called tolerance of ordinary file sharers will come to an end. At least in Germany, where movie powerhouse Constantin Film has begun targeting illegal file sharers at a large scale, a German newspaper reports.
After identifying more than 10,000 individuals suspected of copyright infringement, the German-based company has already made a ‘generous’ offer for out-of-court settlement by sending 500 letters in which infringers are asked to pay 800 Euros (about 1000 USD) for each movie they have downloaded and pledge for no involvement in this kind of activities from now on. Those who refuse to pay are threatened with a court trial.
In a statement published in the same newspaper, Constantin executive Bernhard Burgener said the sum his company is claiming as damage compensation (1000 USD) is "largely symbolic." If the money itself was ridiculously obscene in the first place then Burgener’s statement is purely grotesque. Perhaps the tycoon forgets that not everybody earns as much as he does.
Lately Germany has become the setting for the movie and music industry’s hunting party in a fervent chase for file sharers – we reported last month how Rapidshare, a free file-hosting service that had been targeted for facilitating copyright infringement has started to collaborate with German authorities, handing over personal of its users. We have also reported about the anti-piracy campaign launched by German book-publishers so I guess this country is becoming a dream-land for copyright owners.
