To what extent does this ruling apply? Are car hire companies in the EU still subject to a licence fee for the ability to receive public broadcasting or does this ruling only apply to music? Were these companies paying two separate fees: one for music content and one for pubic broadcasting? In Germany every household and company is required to pay a mandatory fee known as the "Rundfunkbeitrag" (AKA "GEZ") for the mere possibility being able to consume public broadcasting content. This fee is mandatory even with proof that neither a TV nor radio exists on the premises. This money supposedly goes to the broadcasters.
In addition to the Rundfunkbeitrag, Bars and clubs, however, are also required to make payments to GEMA which supposedly goes to the artists. In the case mentioned in the article it seems that the payments in question are similar to GEMA (music) as opposed to the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting). A few years ago the car hire company, Sixt, unsuccessfully sued in the German courts for having to pay the Rundfunkbeitrag for each of their rental vehicles. I wonder what effect, if any, this new decision could have on the German Rundfunkbeitrag/GEMA scheme?
Could authorities throughout the EU simply redefine the fees as a licence for the ability receive public broadcasting as opposed to just music?