Germany has introduced a new rule under which websites found selling adult ebooks before 10pm will be fined an amount of over $56,000.
The country's Youth Protection Authority recently introduced new clauses in its 2002 rule book aimed at protecting children from adult content. As per the existing rules under the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the country, X-rated content is allowed to be screened on TV only between 10pm and 6am.
According to German daily Boersenblatt, the TV rule has now been extended to ebooks after a complaint that a rather raunchy autobiography of a transgender person - Schlauchgelüste ("Pantyhose Cravings") - was easily available on ebook for downloads.
The new law wants e-tailers such as Amazon to work out a measure to ensure that adult ebooks are only sold between 10pm and 6am. Also, it wants the online sellers to ensure that the website verifies the age of the buyers before allowing anyone to download an adult content.
As most of the websites are still selling adult ebooks online, the regulatory body can fine them over $56,000 for failing to abide by the new rule, The Independent reported.
The sellers are yet to respond to the new regulation. However, a German blogger called the partial ban on sale of adult ebooks as "just nuts".
"Given the prevalence of adult content on websites outside of Germany, trying to control access on sites in Germany is just nuts. Even King Canute knew that he could not hold back the tide, but apparently German regulators lack that level of common sense," blogger Nate Hoffelder toldThe Digital Reader.
