Apple has slightly raised iPhone and iPad prices in Germany on January 1, likely to comply with new private copying levies agreed to by German trade association Bitkom and ZPÜ collecting societies such as GEMA in December 2015.
iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 5s prices increased by around 5 euros for each model, while iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 2 and iPad Pro models each rose by around 8 euros compared to December 31 prices on the Apple Online Store.
The price increases are in line with Germany’s new private copying levies that manufacturers and importers must charge on purchases of recordable media devices. Apple is a Bitkom member, so it pays a reduced rate in the amount of 5 euros for mobile phones and 7 euros for tablets. Non-members are required to charge fees of up to 6.25 euros per mobile phone and 8.75 euros per tablet.
Germany allows consumers to make private copies of songs and other recordable media, which can be stored on devices like iPhones and iPads, and private copying levies exist to provide royalties to songwriters, composers, music publishers, recording artists, musicians and record companies for those private copies of music. Many other European countries charge similar private copying levies on recordable media devices.
Apple has paid a similar private copy levy of 10.55 euros on Macs in Germany since 2010.
Update: Apple confirmed to The Associated Press that the price increase is linked to the new copyright levy.