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In a decision of 21 December 2004, the Bayerische Verwaltungsgericht München (Bavarian Administrative Court, Munich - case no. BY/U/1148) ruled on an urgent application from the music broadcaster MTV ("the applicant") against the Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (Bavarian New Media Office - BLM) concerning broadcast time restrictions on the MTV series " I want a famous face " (see also IRIS 2004-9:9). The proceedings also involved the Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Fernsehen (Voluntary Self-Regulatory Authority for Television - FSF), to which private TV broadcasters can appeal against a rating...

In a decision of 10 February 2005 (case no. III ZR 294/04), the Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Supreme Court - BGH) explained that the right of the press to information covers legal entities under private law, provided the State exercises significant influence over the entity concerned and uses it to fulfil its public remit. The case concerned a newspaper publisher's right to information concerning a local energy company. Under the niedersächsische Pressegesetz (Lower Saxony Press Act), authorities are obliged to provide members of the press with the information they need to fulfil their public duties....

On 15 February 2005, the European Commission referred the examination of the proposed acquisition of ISH GmbH & Co. KG and ISH KS NRW GmbH & Co. KG by Iesy Repository GmbH, which is itself owned by American firm Apollo Management V, lL.P. to the Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartels Office). The Cartels Office had requested that the merger be referred to it, since both companies operate solely in the German market. It must now investigate whether the merger will affect competition in the German cable TV market.

An agreement between Germany and South Africa on audio-visual co-productions was signed in Cape Town on 17 November 2004. The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen the film industry in both countries and promote economic and cultural exchange through film co-production. The agreement defines the term "audio-visual co-production" and names the bodies responsible for its implementation. Films produced under the agreement qualify as national films and are entitled to all state aid available to the film and video industry. Producers and all other parties involved must fulfil certain conditions...

The Federal Government and the Länder, who agreed in 1996 to distinguish between tele- and media services, have decided to abolish the distinction in favour of a common regulatory system in order to take into account media convergence. It was announced at the telecommunications day organised by the industry association Bitkom in Berlin on 14 December 2004 that draft reforms of the law on tele- and media services should be put down for discussion in April 2005. They will include the total abolition of the current Mediendienstestaatsvertrag (Inter-State Agreement on Media Services) and its replacement...