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German users of YouTube have, like the rest of us, been subjected to the upside-down display prank Google scheduled for April 1st.  Unfortunately for them, music videos have also been pulled from the German version of the site, and this move looks to be serious and long-lasting. 

Remember how YouTube and the UK’s Performing Rights Society for Music couldn’t come to an agreement on licensing fees last month?  Well, substitute "GEMA" for "PRS," understand that a contract expired at the end of March, and you’ll get a good idea of what happened here.

A Bild.de article reported, "GEMA spokeswoman Bettina Muller said that her organisation initially suggested that YouTube be charged 1 cent per song played. . . .  Google’s Kay Oberbeck called GEMA’s demands ‘completely unacceptable’ because YouTube would be making a loss with every video played."

As a result, the article continued, "Now that their contract in Germany has run out, they are banned from showing videos unless they can come to an agreement with GEMA."

Neither side seems ready to budge so far.  Maybe Germany’s version of MTV will benefit from the squabble, at least.

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