Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
It only applies to sales from German retailers. Ie between 2200 and 0600 German time.
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Actually it only applies to "broadcasting" such material before 10 p.m. This clearly has TV in mind, but apparently applies to ebooks and other media as well.
Which is ridiculous, really, since the scope is very, very broad: this does not only apply to your run-of-the-mill pornography, but also (otherwise legal, mind you) works that are contemptuous of certain (racial and other) groups, glorify war, trivialize nazi crimes, show scenes of gratuitous violence or cruelty, including people dying or being subject to severe corporal or mental suffering (provided it's a true story and certain exceptions don't apply) or, finally, works which may serve as a how-to for willful damage to property or malicious mischief. This list is not exhaustive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by crich70
Are they going to be able to be sure that someone they sell to isn't still a minor in the eyes of the law? Just because a kid is supposed to be at home in bed doesn't mean they will be. And someone always comes along selling fake ID's as well.
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True, and they are way stricter with porn. Mail-order porn is a federal crime in Germany, and it's very difficult for German adult websites to stay legal (and in business).
Quote:
Originally Posted by drjenkins
I presume they use a credit card number to "prove" you are an adult. No minor child has ever found their parent's credit card number.  |
No. The vendor must make sure that only legal adults have access to pornographic material. This usually means a face-to-face check in some store or other (or perhaps the post office? I have no idea) presenting an official picture ID.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
OK, but given the fact that this law does actually exist, what do you think German retailers should do? Ignore it?
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I don't know, but it
is somewhat ridiculous: they are applying a law that was meant for TV ("broadcast times") to other "media services" as well, including ebooks. Does it serve a legitimate purpose? I'm not even sure of that. My kids are small, but as a parent I bear some responsibility for what they read. I don't let them watch TV shows for which they're too young, either. It's just that I don't need Big Brother's laws for that.