The magazine “Compact”, a magazine from the right margin, is no longer allowed to distribute the special issue of the “Babylon Berlin” series.
The magazine classified as “securely extremist” by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution Compact is no longer allowed to sell his special issue of the TV series “Babylon Berlin” after a temporary injunction by the Berlin Regional Court. In the past few weeks, the right-wing magazine had once again excitedly advertised its “Babylon Berlin” special, including “Historical background to the great cult series”: In view of an impending ban, the reader should buy several issues at once.
The at Compact A cultivated sound of conspiracy tales and murmuring insinuations mixed everything with everything: polemics against the “state media”, furious accusations of “censorship” and self-portrayal as an “opposition” allegedly being pursued by the “regime”. The legal dispute over the special issue had nothing to do with interference with freedom of the press, but with the fact that Compact in the opinion of the district court, has violated copyrights on a large scale. The “Babylon Berlin” issue not only spreads a confused historical picture (“The sweet smell of mold and blood”, “Pornos and proles”) and the usual conspiracy narratives, such as the “alleged climate change”. It also makes generous use of the series’ image material – without, however, having asked permission from the rights holders, the Berlin film production company X-Filme. One of the pictures, a nude picture of the leading actress Liv Lisa Fries, is apparently copied from the trailer of the private broadcaster Sky, which will broadcast the fourth season in autumn.
No censorship, of course, says the film company – but misuse of their image material
As soon as the magazine was published, the directors and producers of the series protested against being appropriated by the right-wing magazine. X-Filme has now obtained an injunction that prevents the further misuse of their image material and thus the distribution of the special issue. The film production explains to the SZ that this is “not like from the compactMagazine repeatedly claimed to be censorship, but to be prohibited on the basis of a violation of the law. However, we continue to expressly distance ourselves from the contents of the magazine”.
Of the CompactThe editor-in-chief fumed on the magazine’s website: “A heavy blow to freedom of the press – and to Compact damage of at least 60,000 euros”. Because the court also prohibited the depiction of the front page, the publisher says it is no longer allowed to sell other issues of the magazine in which this cover is depicted for advertising purposes. This does not have to be the end of the be argument. Compact made money from his special issue and copyright infringement. At the moment it is unclear whether X-Filme will also take civil action against the magazine and sue the publisher for damages.