Keyword: Auteursrecht
The Impossible Quest – Problems with Diligent Search for Orphan Works external link
Abstract
Digital technologies allow unprecedented preservation and sharing of world-wide cultural heritage. Public and private players are increasingly entering the scene with mass digitisation projects that will make this possible. In Europe, legislative action has been taken to allow cultural institutions to include in their online collections copyright works whose owners are either unknown or non-locatable (“orphan works”). However, according to the Orphan Works Directive, cultural institutions must attempt to locate the owner of a work before using it. This is the so-called “diligent search” requirement. This paper provides an empirical analysis of the conditions under which a diligent search can feasibly be carried out. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Italy, all of which have implemented the Orphan Works Directive, have been selected as case studies. For each jurisdiction, this analysis determines what the requirements for a diligent search to locate copyright holders are, what the authoritative sources and databases to be consulted are in practice and, most importantly, to what extent these are freely accessible online. In doing so, our analysis provides insights into the two main issues affecting cultural heritage institutions: (1) how much legal certainty does the implementation provide, and (2) what is the practical burden of a diligent search. The analysis reveals that the jurisdictions have given different meanings to the term “diligent”. While the UK’s extensive guidance makes it unlikely that a search would not be deemed diligent, the search burden is onerous. On the other hand, Italy and especially the Netherlands have a lighter search burden, but in the absence of clear, definite guidance, the likelihood of accidental infringement by failing to meet the diligence standard is greater. In addition, all three jurisdictions have so far failed to take the accessibility of the sources into account, making the searches even more onerous than the numbers suggest at first sight. Therefore, it will be difficult for cultural institutions to clear the rights for their collections while fully complying with the requirements of the legislation. This article concludes that legislative action, official guidelines, or jurisprudence are needed to establish a different legal value of sources for a diligent search, with various degrees of optionality depending on data relevance and accessibility.
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Copyright, cultural heritage, frontpage, Mass digitisation, orphan works, Orphan Works Directive
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Bibtex
Beyond the Cover Story – An Enquiry into the EU Competence to Introduce a Right for Publishers external link
Abstract
This paper examines the competence of the EU to introduce a neighbouring right for publishers (including a neighbouring right for press publishers, also called "ancillary copyright"). The assessment of competence is carried out following a step-by-step approach, which involves an analysis of the applicable Treaty norms and an assessment of subsidiarity and proportionality.
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ancillary copyright, Copyright, European Union, Lawmaking, Neighbouring rights, publishers
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Bibtex
European Intermediary Liability in Copyright: A Tort-Based Analysis external link
Abstract
European Intermediary Liability in Copyright provides a clarification on the existing rules of the European Union on the liability of internet intermediaries for third party copyright infringement. On this basis, it formulates a plausible model for a potential future further harmonisation of this complicated area.
In step with its rapid progress to the centre of modern social, political and economic life, the internet has proven a convenient vehicle for the commission of unprecedented levels of copyright infringement. Given the significant practical obstacles to the successful pursuit of actual perpetrators, it has become common for internet intermediaries – the providers of internet-related infrastructure and services – to face liability as accessories. Despite advances in policy at the European level however, the law in this area remains fragmented between Member States. This is the first book to take a law-based approach towards exploring the possible substantive harmonisation of the rules of intermediary liability at the EU level.
The thesis on which the book was based won Proxime Accessit in the 2016 European Law Faculties Association Award for Outstanding Doctoral Theses in European Law.
aansprakelijkheid, Auteursrecht, Copyright, intermediaries, Kluwer Information Law Series
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Bibtex
Digital libraries, digital law? A tale of copyright challenges and chances external link
Abstract
This contribution inquires the following assumption: if libraries have a public task to provide low threshold access to (online) information, then shouldn’t copyright law, as a system of exclusive rights and exceptions which shares goals in the organization and dissemination of information, somehow facilitate that task?
Copyright, Copyright Directive, copyright reform, Darmstadt, digital libraries, exceptions, frontpage, libraries, Orphan Works Directive, public task
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Bibtex
Remuneration of authors of books and scientific journals, translators, journalists and visual artists for the use of their works external link
Abstract
A new EU study looks at the remuneration paid to authors in the print sector in ten EU countries (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary and Denmark). The study was conducted to support policy-making in the area of copyright. The Commission is looking for evidence on whether, and to what extent, the differences that exist amongst the Member States' legislative frameworks affect levels of remuneration and the functioning of the internal market.
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authors, Copyright, frontpage, journalists, remuneration, translators, visual artists
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Bibtex
Communication to a New Public? Three reasons why EU copyright law can do without a ‘new public’ external link
Abstract
This article critically examines the 'new public' test in EU copyright law, which was developed by the CJEU interpreting the right of communication to the public in cases of retransmission and hyperlinking. As the authors seek to demonstrate, this test is flawed for at least three reasons: historical, conceptual and economic. EU copyright law can do well without a 'new public' test.
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aggregation, Auteursrecht, Berne Convention, communication to the public, Copyright, frontpage, hyperlinking, new public
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Bibtex
International copyright reform in support of open legal information (working paper draft, Sep. 2016) external link
Abstract
This paper analyzes the status of legal information under international and national copyright laws. It argues that the current uncertainties with respect to the copyright status of primary legal materials (legislation, court decisions) and secondary legal materials such as parliamentary records and other official texts relevant to the interpretation of law, constitute a barrier to access and use. The time has come for reform of the international copyright system in WIPO. International law should recognize explicitly that primary and secondary legal materials are public domain and thus not subject to copyright or related rights. This will bring outdated copyright norms across the world up to date with current developments: the trend towards universal recognition of the right to access government information as part of human rights, the UN’s sustainable development goals with respect to access to law, and the rapid growth of open government policies worldwide, supported by the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
access to law, Copyright, Freedom of expression, frontpage, Fundamental rights, open government, right to know
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Bibtex
Europeana Sounds and Copyrights: The Need for and Challenges in Licensing Archival Material external link
collective management, Copyright, Europeana, Licensing
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Bibtex
Regulating for Creativity and Cultural Diversity: the Case of Collective Management Organisations and the Music Industry external link
Abstract
This paper explores the role of intermediary institutions in promoting creativity and cultural diversity in the music industry, and the impact of cultural policy on the performance of those intermediaries. It reviews some of the existing literature on the relationship between economic conditions and innovation in music, and argues that too little attention has been paid to intermediaries. Focusing on collective management organisations (CMOs) as one example of overlooked intermediaries, we illustrate, by way of comparison, the different priorities and incentives that drive CMO practice. These variations, we suggest, are important to appreciating how CMOs operate as intermediaries in different territories. We then turn our attention to recent attempts by the EU to reform CMO practice as part of its Digital Single Market project. The fact that the CMO has been an object of reform is indicative of its importance. However, there is more at stake here: the reforms themselves, in seeking to change the role and behaviour of CMOs will, we suggest, have profound consequences for the market in music in Europe, and for creativity and cultural diversity within that market.
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collective management organisations, Copyright, creativity, cultural diversity, Digital Single Market, EU, frontpage, music industry