'Robbing us of our FREEDOM' – Protests ERUPT across Germany against EU copyright bill

The protests were against an EU internet reform which makes platforms legally responsible for the content that they host on their sites. There were 40 rallies in Germany alone against the directive with the largest being in Munich where 40,000 marched against the bill. Protestors marched under the banner of “save our internet” against the directive which reaches its final legislative stage on Tuesday.

DW reporter, Oxana Evdokimova reported that some marchers chanted: “We’re here. We’re loud because you’re robbing us of our freedom.”

There is one major piece of legislation within the new bill that protests have particularly highlighted.

Article 13, also known as the “meme law” which makes platforms legally responsible for hosting copyrighted material uploaded by users.

If passed, Article 13 would effectively end the use of memes across the internet as websites would have to screen all user-uploaded content.

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Critics of Article 13 argue that this would encourage sites to use necessary filters which would hinder the online creativity of the artists.

Aside from Article 13, the reform would also introduce a “link tax”.

The “link tax” would allow publishers to charge platforms for their content.

Backers of that reform argued that if the directive did not pass, it would mean a “total selloff” of copyright entitlements.

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In a statement, supporters of the bill said: “Authors must be paid. Therefore, the internet needs good rules.

“Copyright law has to be clarified for today’s digital world, but not weakened or abolished.”

The new bill is an attempt to modernise the EU’s 2001 copyright law within the Single Digital Market.

If passed next week member states will have two years to enshrine into national law.

source: express.co.uk