Apple Raises iPhone and iPad Prices in Germany to Reflect Copyright Fees

[MacRumors]

Apple has slightly raised iPhone and iPad prices in Germany on January 1, likely to comply with new private copying levies agreed to by German trade association Bitkom and ZPÜ collecting societies such as GEMA in December 2015.

iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 5s prices increased by around 5 euros for each model, while iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 2 and iPad Pro models each rose by around 8 euros compared to December 31 prices on the Apple Online Store.

The price increases are in line with Germany's new private copying levies that manufacturers and importers must charge on purchases of recordable media devices. Apple is a Bitkom member, so it pays a reduced rate in the amount of 5 euros for mobile phones and 7 euros for tablets. Non-members are required to charge fees of up to 6.25 euros per mobile phone and 8.75 euros per tablet.

Germany allows consumers to make private copies of songs and other recordable media, which can be stored on devices like iPhones and iPads, and private copying levies exist to provide royalties to songwriters, composers, music publishers, recording artists, musicians and record companies for those private copies of music. Many other European countries charge similar private copying levies on recordable media devices.

Apple has paid a similar private copy levy of 10.55 euros on Macs in Germany since 2010.

Update: Apple confirmed to The Associated Press that the price increase is linked to the new copyright levy.

Article Link: Apple Raises iPhone and iPad Prices in Germany to Reflect Copyright Fees

 

[garirry]

I was scared for a minute I thought they raised it by a decent amount, thank god it's not that much of a difference.

 

[subjonas]

What the hell is a euro?

 

[thadoggfather]

Lol yay

Price raises

 

[brauntj]

What the hell is a euro?

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe a euro is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

 

[bfreek]

What the hell is a euro?

that's the currency used to rob us europeans. the best thing about it: people don't care.

 

[subjonas]

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe a euro is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

Wow. Good luck finding FIVE euros, Germans.

 

[subjonas]

that's the currency used to rob us europeans. the best thing about it: people don't care.

Y'all should revolt. Or come to 'Murica where everything is perfect.

 

[Tamagotchi]

Apple's prices are ridiculous here in Europe. Worse is Apple doesn't pay taxes anywhere in the EU... Except for a mere amount in Ireland.

that's the currency used to rob us europeans. the best thing about it: people don't care.

^lefty who hates the Union

 

[dumastudetto]

It is only fair that German consumers should eat the entire cost of this.

 

[justperry]

There is a similar tax in holland, most people aren't aware though.

 

[Merkie]

The day Apple is going to lower iPhone prices is probably the same day as when hell will freeze over.

 

[KALLT]

There is similar tax in holland, most people aren't aware though.

Many European countries do, it is now effectively required by EU law when countries decide to use the private-copy exception, which allows people to make private copies of protected works, provided that there is a compensation scheme for it. The UK, for instance, has not implemented that exception to the same extent as other countries and does not have a compensation scheme like this, which was largely the reason why the UK had to re-introduce a ban on music ripping recently.

 

[byke]

How does an iDevice infringe german copyright material exactly?

 

[bushido]

How does an iDevice infringe german copyright material exactly?

you "could" "potentially" "maybe" "likely" put copyright protected material on it. they r basically assuming everyones a thief. same fee has to be applied on usb thumb drives, blank cds, even printers (to print out lyrics) etc

 

[fluchtpunkt]

they r basically assuming everyones a thief.

Wrong. In Germany it's legal to copy media among friends or family, the so called Privatkopie, literally "private copy". So if your friend buys a CD or if they buy music from iTunes they can give you a copy of that music legally.

The copyright fees are a compensation for that kind of copy.

(the law does obviously not apply to any sort of download)

 

[Erdbeertorte]

Those prices are looking really weird compared to Austria now. They had been the same before, despite the higher tax here in Austria.

 

[jaymzuk]

Replace 'Reflect copyright fees' with 'Maintain profit margin' and you're on the money

 

[thewitt]

Replace 'Reflect copyright fees' with 'Maintain profit margin' and you're on the money

And you say that as if it's a bad thing.

Apple is in business to make a profit.

 

[bushido]

Wrong. In Germany it's legal to copy media among friends or family, the so called Privatkopie, literally "private copy". So if your friend buys a CD or if they buy music from iTunes they can give you a copy of that music legally.

The copyright fees are a compensation for that kind of copy.

(the law does obviously not apply to any sort of download)

but you arent allowed to or use tools to by-pass copyright protection

 

[jaymzuk]

And you say that as if it's a bad thing.

Apple is in business to make a profit.

True. But either way, consumers in Germany are paying more for the products then they previously were, with precisely zero benefit. It's as if the value proposition doesn't apply to Apple.

I currently own an iPhone 6, after owning a Moto G and HTC One. Quite frankly I've been unimpressed with the iPhone. Largely it works well, a few really annoying software issues, but there really is no reason why it should be the default choice in smartphones.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Replace 'Reflect copyright fees' with 'Maintain profit margin' and you're on the money

^This.
Holy penny pinching batman. To the educated buyer this just feels asinine. Granted, the times are gone when Apple cared about them.
Oh look, I can buy the new MacBook in rose-gold. Hang on guys, I'll be right back....




Glassed Silver:mac

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Instead of decreasing their margins the products get even more expensive....As a consumer I am not happy.

 

[rdlink]

True. But either way, consumers in Germany are paying more for the products then they previously were, with precisely zero benefit. It's as if the value proposition doesn't apply to Apple.

I currently own an iPhone 6, after owning a Moto G and HTC One. Quite frankly I've been unimpressed with the iPhone. Largely it works well, a few really annoying software issues, but there really is no reason why it should be the default choice in smartphones.

First of all, consumers in Germany SHOULD be paying more "then" they previously were. If a government entity increases a tax on the consumption of a product the people who are consuming the product should pay for it. If your local municipality increased sales taxes by half a percent would you expect all of the vendors who sell that product in your city to lower their prices by half a percent, and just pay the tax themselves?

If Apple were to buy USB flash drives or blank CDs in Germany to use for their business do you think they should insist that he seller of the USB flash drives or CDs should eat the cost of the new German levy?

As an aside, I would not be surprised that, if you were to check you would find that other smartphone sellers in Germany, including Motorola and HTC likely raised their prices to allow for this new tax, also. Greedy bastards! /s

Second, you are absolutely correct about the iPhone in that it should not be "the default choice in smartphones." There should be no "default choice in smartphones." It's a consumer product, and each consumer should make the decision about which product serves their needs. Period.

But the fact is that the marketplace has spoken, and continues to speak. The iPhone is, without any confusion, ambiguity or controversy the number one selling single smartphone in the world. Period. If you don't see the value in it over other phones that's completely your business. Don't buy one. Of course, hundreds of millions of people, including myself disagree with you. I've owned multiple Android devices, and used even more for work. I will say unequivocally that none of them comes close to the quality and usability of the iPhone, for me.

 

[rdlink]

Instead of decreasing their margins the products get even more expensive....As a consumer I am not happy.

^This.
Holy penny pinching batman. To the educated buyer this just feels asinine. Granted, the times are gone when Apple cared about them.
Oh look, I can buy the new MacBook in rose-gold. Hang on guys, I'll be right back....




Glassed Silver:mac

Then you should contact your government representative and ask them why they feel the need to raise your taxes again, while providing you no increase in value for your tax dollar.