In this open-ended report commissioned by the Bundestag parliamentary group Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen, Prof. Spindler examines the legal and economic feasibility and design of an approach to the so-called “culture flat rate”. The question was whether a flat-rate remuneration approach for broadband connections can be a building block for fairer, modern copyright law, for appropriate remuneration for authors and a balance of social interests. The comprehensive and detailed report makes a significant contribution to the discussion about the future of copyright law, which is being carried out in practically every country in the age of the global Internet. It will be made fully accessible to the public so that the results can be used and further developed by all interested parties. Prof. In his report, Spindler shows that a flat-rate remuneration approach is constitutionally permissible and can be an attractive model for appropriate remuneration for creative people. For the users' situation, it offers a suitable alternative to repressive and socially highly conflict-prone forms of law enforcement. At the same time, however, important difficulties and hurdles in the implementation of such a model are pointed out. |