Apple raises iPhone, iPad prices in Germany to pay royalties to porn filmmakers and actors

By Jason Hahn January 3, 2016

apple raises iphone ipad prices in germany to pay royalties porn filmmakers and actors 5 vs 6 plus mini — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The iPhone and iPad is a bit more expensive in Germany, thanks to a deal that will benefit creative professionals, including pornographic filmmakers. The agreement will add about 5-7 euros ($5.50-$7.70) to each device’s price.

Apple is raising the prices of the iPhone and iPad as part of a copyright levy deal between the tech industry and content producers in Germany, according to the Associated Press. The company, along with Samsung and others, struck the agreement in December to pay 5-7 euros for each smartphone or tablet imported into the country.

“The money will be distributed among creative professionals, including a group representing ‘creators, producers and acting artists of erotic and pornographic films,’” according to the Associated Press.

Prices for the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and 5S each rose by about 5 euros; meanwhile, prices for the iPad Air 2, Air, Mini 4, Mini 2, and Pro each rose by about 8 euros compared to prices observed on December 31 in Apple’s online store, according to MacRumors.

The deal is based on a 1965 German law allowing consumers to make private copies of audio, images, text, and other recordable media. The levies are meant to provide royalties to content creators.

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Jason Hahn is a part-time freelance writer based in New Jersey. He earned his master's degree in journalism at Northwestern…

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