Dutch 

Research

The institute's mission is to further the development of information law into a balanced framework that accommodates the needs and interests of the information society. To this end, IViR brings together all the legal disciplines necessary to study the regulatory framework for the production, dissemination and use of information. Information law is a discipline where many areas of law meet, notably: intellectual property law, fundamental rights of communication (notably privacy and freedom of expression), regulation of government information and commercial information and the market regulation of information networks (telecommunications, broadcasting and other media). Information law is not restricted to one particular type of information technology, but applies the principles developed for old ('analogous') media to electronic media, reassessing them were necessary. The institute has played a pioneering role in this approach which has been followed home and abroad.

IViR research particularly focuses on the convergence processes between the different media and distribution functions and their repercussions on law and policy. Information law is a normative concept, which means that it is to contribute to a normative framework for a well balanced organisation of the information society.

Information law can be defined as the body of law governing the production, the storage, the distribution and the use of information.Information law finds itself in a multidisciplinary field of tension, in which cultural, economic, technical and administrative aspects meet.

IViR's research programme consists of seven parts, that may somewhat overlap. These correspond largely to (Dutch and continental European) statute law. Our research focuses on all those areas characterised by new developments that are mostly inspired by digitalisation, without losing sight of 'analogue' information law. See the left-hand bar for further information about individual subject areas.

All of the research conducted by IViR staff members leads to publications. In practice, the research programme consists partly of Ph.D. research and partly of short-term projects (up to one year) and projects of longer duration (up to four years). A considerable portion of the research is financed by funds acquired by IViR from external academic sources (in particular, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). The Institute also carries out research that has been commissioned by third parties, especially public bodies such as governmental ministries, the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) and other advisory bodies, the Press Fund, the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Europe. Such research is also carried out in the form of projects as part of the research programme.

Details of the main research (projects) currently conducted by the Institute are presented in the table. Details of completed research can be found under Publications. Research in Dutch or other languages can be found here.

 

Title Description
Freedom of expression and minority rights PhD-thesis
Trademark law and freedom of expression and information PhD-thesis
Formalities in copyright law PhD-thesis
Protection of regimes for computer programmes PhD-thesis
Regulatory aspects of search engines PhD-thesis
Reporting Service European Copyright Law Reporting service of national and European copyright jurisprudence
European Copyright and related rights: past, present, future Prospective volume in Information Law Series
Promoting cultural diversity in the Irish broadcasting sector An assessment of international standards and best practices with a view to their operationalisation in an Irish context
 

Updated 17.01.2008