Copyright In A Global Information Society The Scope Of Copyright Protection Under International U S U K And French Law

Copyright is of considerable importance in today's global information society, and the rapid pace of technological developments has posed a significant challenge for copyright policymakers and legislators. The problems international, regional and national bodies are currently grappling with include: identifying and defining the range of rights to cover all the important economic methods of exploiting copyright works; enforcing these rights at a time when all such works have become capable of being digitized, transmitted instantaneously and, with or without authority, reproduced flawlessly and at minimal cost. Copyright in a Global Information Society examines the scope of authors' rights in relation to the exploitation of their works by broadcasting, whether terrestrial or by satellite, cabling or over computer networks, in three important jurisdictions and under relevant international conventions. The analysis traces the gradual expansion of the various exclusive rights granted by copyright law in response to technological developments and puts them in their modern context, focusing on the overarching right of public performance or communication. The author argues that the advent of modern technologies, which recognize no national boundaries, necessitate the adoption of an internationally harmonized concept of 'communication to the public' as the primary right applicable to the dissemination of copyright works in non-material form. This work is a valuable contribution to the study and understanding of copyright law and will be of great interest to academic and practising lawyers, and to those involved in shaping modern copyright policy.

More than a source of income and a means of protection for creators, rightholders, and the creative and entertainment industries, copyright is also a vehicle for technological advances and economic development. In the European Union, industries with intensive emphasis on intellectual property rights (mainly copyright) generate more than a quarter of employment and more than a third of economic activity. Yet copyright continues to be plagued by problematic attempts to balance the interests of rightholders, the public, consumers, intermediaries, collecting societies, different national legal traditions, and other forces, European and global. This book draws a comprehensive picture of current, pending, and proposed copyright developments – legislation, ‘communications,’ white papers, and court decisions – at the levels of the European Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Twenty-two well-known and prestigious experts on intellectual property law from seventeen jurisdictions worldwide contribute essays on particular trends in copyright, including discussions of the following and more: - making content available in an EU digital single market; - collective management and multi-territorial licensing; - exceptions for libraries and archives, education and research; - traditional knowledge and cultural expressions; - unjustified geoblocking; - illegal content on the Internet; - text and data mining; - copyright enforcement online; and - role of the European Court of Justice. Policy recommendations are also set forth, as well as a detailed conceptual framework for a potential EU Copyright Code. As a detailed and thoughtful overview of current trends in copyright internationally, this book has no peers. It is sure to be welcomed by practitioners, policymakers, academics, researchers, and business leaders for whom intellectual property rights, and especially copyright, are of the first importance.

This study assesses the scope of the public domain, as defined by copyright laws, history and philosophy, before turning to the issue of its effectiveness and greater availability to the public and society at large.

Based on comparative research concerning both international conventions and laws, regulations, policies and cases from different jurisdictions, this book puts forward proposals for recovering the balance of interests between copyright holders, technological intermediaries and public users with regard to the access to, distribution and exploitation of copyright works. Four specific issues are discussed in detail: · an anti-circumvention rule for protection of technological measures that control access to copyright material; · indirect infringing liability for internet service providers and safe harbor regulations, which influence the dissemination of copyright works; · copyright limitations and exceptions especially under the digital network environment, which are relevant to the extent that users are allowed to exploit copyright works; · digital commons projects that promote the distribution and adaptation of copyright works placed under voluntary license schemes, which are relevant to the tolerance and encouragement of remix culture.

This book examines whether reintroducing copyright formalities is legally feasible. Based on a comprehensive and thorough analysis of copyright formalities, it sets out to establish the extent to which the current copyright system allows for their reintroduction. To this end, the author describes the role and functions of formalities, revisits the history of formalities at the national and international levels, examines the scope of the international prohibition on formalities, and scrutinizes the rationales behind this prohibition, including an in-depth examination of the validity of the argument that copyright is a 'natural right' and therefore should be protected independently of formalities. The author skilfully evaluates and contrasts the conflicting theories according to which formalities, on the one hand, add legal certainty to claims on the ownership of property, and, on the other, hamper individual authors from seeking adequate protection for their works. This book makes an important contribution to legal science by answering questions that so far have been neglected or only marginally addressed. To the degree that current copyright law permits reintroducing formalities, the author posits the specifications that will determine to a great extent what role and functions they may eventually fulfil: depending on the aims to be achieved, lawmakers must choose which types of formalities shall be imposed, and what their legal consequences shall be. This book goes a long way towards reinforcing the foundation for those decisions.

The European concern with copyright and related rights -- Object, subject, and duration of protection -- Exclusive rights and limitations -- Rights management information and technological protection measures -- Term extension for sound recordings -- Term calculation for co-written musical works -- Orphan works -- The blessings and curses of harmonization -- The last frontier : territoriality.