We are a group of members of the CDU/CSU. For us, the Internet is part of everyday life, whether as an economic foundation, a source of information, a means of communication, a tool for our policy work or a subject for research.

For more and more people, the Internet is taking over the the role that traditional media once held, and is becoming the dominant medium.

It is not only a source of information, but also a workplace and social space. Thus for a large, ever-growing number of people it is an indispensable part of their lives.

Nobody would suggest, for example, prohibiting a shoplifter from accessing newspapers or television.

The idea of imposing a temporary block on Internet access in the case of copyright infringement is equally absurd. This massive encroachment on fundamental rights is obviously unconstitutional, taking into account the principle of proportionality.

The existing legal system currently provides adequate civil and criminal sanctions for copyright infringement.

Individual blocks are also not technically and practically feasible - for example for the following reasons:

- The blocking of Internet access may constitute a disproportionate interference in professional and academic freedom.

- With an increasing number of smart phones and tablet computers, it is a fact of life that many people have more than one Internet connection available.

- ISPs do not have a suitable blocking system, which would in any case be easy to circumvent.

- Fixed line Internet access points are typically used by more than one person, eg by a family or community.

It's impressive not only that a group of politicians should understand and articulate the issues so clearly, but that they should feel strongly enough about them to set up an initiative and web site proclaiming the fact. When moves to make relevant laws fair and proportionate span the entire political spectrum, it offers the hope that the copyright pendulum may be starting to reach its maximum, in some countries at least.

Or, if you read between the lines, what it really says is:
Big hollywood and record companies, our economy is in the toilet. We need an influx of cash to be re-elected. We are happy to accept large donations. Many of our staff members will also be looking for jobs in a year or two. Our opinions on the matter of copyright is subject to change. Feel free to fly us to glamorous parts of the world, donate to our campaign funds, and "educate" us on the evils of piracy. Our price is high, but not too high. Thank you."

Re: Re:

Exactly that. Now that the Pirate Party is growing, and the Green Party supports "anti-copyright", too, they'll start acting like they care about people's rights, too, but I don't buy it. They can't just do a 180 degrees turn. It's just for show.

@blaktron
I've read through original text and the translations is correct. If you don't trust the translation you could try to translate it with an online translater, like Google Language Tools, and look for major discrepancies.

@6.Anonymous Coward
No, it's just a group of members of the CDU/CSU parties. Only 2 of them are members of the parlament (MdB)

Re: Re:

Re:

Germany uses MMP right?

sadly, if it's similar enough to NZ's MMP system for the quirks to carry over, if they got in on the party list, that's incredibly likely.

on the Other hand, if they got in from an electorate? if they didn't suck at representing their constituents they're all but guaranteed to keep coming back, even (especially?) if they break from their current party (if it's a major party that is doing a substandard job of representing those constituents (as most do) and was being voted for mainly to keep out the Other substandard major party...)

A simple explanation

I think it has rather to do with the rise of the pirate party and the fact that Universal Music has been sending nasty letters to citizins demanding unreasonable payment. To stay in power they must act as if they act. Anyway, CDU won't solve the thing, that's quite clear. This is mainly an attempt at stemming the flood of complaints. They will need to do better than that. E.g: kick universal music out of the country for abusing the lawsystem and tell universal that all germans already paid to watch television, listen to music and thus also paid to download music.