Takedown

A group representing Germany's performing artists and musicians has called on online video Web site YouTube to remove 600 videos it says are being "used illegally."

GEMA, an organization that represents 60,000 German songwriters, composers, and music publishers, charges Web and airwave broadcasters a fee each time they use a piece of music produced by one of their members. It had been in negotiations with YouTube owners Google for the past year, trying to come up with a successor to their last contract, which expired on April 1.

"We are not trying to punish YouTube users, but we want to show Google what we can do if we want to," GEMA chief executive Urban Pappi said.

GEMA and its international partners represent the rights-holders for up to 60 percent of the world's music. It collects more than 800 million euros ($1 billion) in fees per year, from everything from doctor's offices where music is played in waiting rooms to discos and radio stations.

Google said it was "disappointed" by GEMA's decision. It said that if it paid the group's asking price, it would lose money every time someone watched a clip by a professional musician.

"The more music videos that are released on YouTube and the more popular these music videos become, the more money YouTube can generate to be shared with rights holders and the songwriters they represent," Google said in a statement.

svs/dpa/AFP
Editor: Chuck Penfold