Geoblocking

State-of-the-Art Geo-Blocking is Good Enough, Even if VPNs Enable Circumvention: The CJEU on Territorial Copyright and the Public Domain in Anne Frank Fonds external link

Kluwer Copyright Blog, 2026

Abstract

Territorial copyright and the borderless Internet have never sat comfortably together. The CJEU’s judgment in Anne Frank Fonds (C-788/24), delivered on 9 July, demonstrates that this tension remains very much alive. Faced with works that have entered the public domain in some Member States but remain protected in others, the Court concludes that geo-blocking retains legal significance for copyright law purposes despite the possibility of VPN circumvention, provided that it qualifies as an “effective technological measure” within the meaning of Article 6(3) of the InfoSoc Directive – that is, a technological measure intended to prevent or limit acts not authorised by the copyright holder (paras. 44-56).

RIS

TY  - BLOG
AU  - Izyumenko, E.
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026-08-18
T1  - State-of-the-Art Geo-Blocking is Good Enough, Even if VPNs Enable Circumvention: The CJEU on Territorial Copyright and the Public Domain in Anne Frank Fonds
JO  - Kluwer Copyright Blog
AB  - Territorial copyright and the borderless Internet have never sat comfortably together. The CJEU’s judgment in Anne Frank Fonds (C-788/24), delivered on 9 July, demonstrates that this tension remains very much alive. Faced with works that have entered the public domain in some Member States but remain protected in others, the Court concludes that geo-blocking retains legal significance for copyright law purposes despite the possibility of VPN circumvention, provided that it qualifies as an “effective technological measure” within the meaning of Article 6(3) of the InfoSoc Directive – that is, a technological measure intended to prevent or limit acts not authorised by the copyright holder (paras. 44-56).
K1  - Copyright
K1  - Geoblocking
K1  - public domain
ER  -

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Online publication{nokey,
	title = {State-of-the-Art Geo-Blocking is Good Enough, Even if VPNs Enable Circumvention: The CJEU on Territorial Copyright and the Public Domain in Anne Frank Fonds},
	author = {Izyumenko, E.},
	url = {https://legalblogs.wolterskluwer.com/copyright-blog/state-of-the-art-geo-blocking-is-good-enough-even-if-vpns-enable-circumvention-the-cjeu-on-territorial-copyright-and-the-public-domain-in-anne-frank-fonds/},
	year = {2026},
	date = {2026-08-18},
	journal = {Kluwer Copyright Blog},
	abstract = {Territorial copyright and the borderless Internet have never sat comfortably together. The CJEU’s judgment in Anne Frank Fonds (C-788/24), delivered on 9 July, demonstrates that this tension remains very much alive. Faced with works that have entered the public domain in some Member States but remain protected in others, the Court concludes that geo-blocking retains legal significance for copyright law purposes despite the possibility of VPN circumvention, provided that it qualifies as an “effective technological measure” within the meaning of Article 6(3) of the InfoSoc Directive – that is, a technological measure intended to prevent or limit acts not authorised by the copyright holder (paras. 44-56).},
	keywords = {Copyright, Geoblocking, public domain},
}

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Annotatie bij Hoge Raad 8 november 2024 (Anne Frank Fonds / Anne Frank Stichting) download

Hugenholtz, P.B.

Auteursrecht, iss. : 2, pp: 105-107, 2025

Abstract

Publicatie van wetenschappelijke editie van dagboek van Anne Frank op website met geoblocking-maatregelen voor Nederland. HR stelt prejudiciële vragen aan Hof van Justitie EU. Brengt mogelijkheid om geoblocking door gebruik van VPN- of soortgelijke dienst te omzeilen mee dat sprake is van mededeling aan het publiek in Nederland?

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Geoblocking measures sufficient to prevent a “communication to the public”? The CJEU gets a second chance external link

Toepoel, I. & Valk, E.G.

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Keyword: Geoblocking

State-of-the-Art Geo-Blocking is Good Enough, Even if VPNs Enable Circumvention: The CJEU on Territorial Copyright and the Public Domain in Anne Frank Fonds external link

Abstract

Links

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Bibtex

Annotatie bij Hoge Raad 8 november 2024 (Anne Frank Fonds / Anne Frank Stichting) download

Abstract

Links

RIS

Bibtex

Geoblocking measures sufficient to prevent a “communication to the public”? The CJEU gets a second chance external link

Links

RIS

Bibtex