YouTube Says ‘Hallo, Deutschland’ With Music License Agreement
By Robert Andrews - Fri 09 Nov 2007 01:58 AM PST
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) has finally struck an agreement with Germany’s royalties collection agency for performed and reproduced music to launch YouTube in the country. Germany was not included in July’s original rollout of nine international YouTube versions (Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Holland, Poland, Spain and the UK ). After lengthy discussions with GEMA, the pair have now agreed on licensing terms, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported. Variety says some 60 media companies are providing programming including ZDF, magazine publisher Gruner+Jahr and German football clubs. ProSiebenSat1 and RTL already operate MyVideo and ClipFish in Germany respectively. A Jewish advocacy group was recently threatening to sue YouTube over “anti-semitic” clips on the international version.
Posted in: Companies, Google, YouTube, Countries, Europe, Germany
