Harmonizing European Copyright Law: The Challenges of Better Lawmaking

by Mireille van Eechoud, P. Bernt Hugenholtz

Overview

Nobody likes today's copyright law. Widespread unauthorized use of copyright material proliferates with impunity, while citizens and users protest that intrusive copyright and related rights law stifle cultural expression. Equipment manufacturers and intermediaries complain about yet more 'security' features that complicate their products and services and encumber marketing, while content owners desperately want enforcement to work. And of course it is crucial that whatever regulatory instruments come into play must not age prematurely in Internet time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789041131300
Publisher:	Wolters Kluwer
Publication date:	09/29/2009
Series:	Information Law , #19
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations|xi

Preface xv

Chapter 1 The European Concern with Copyright and Related Rights 1

1.1 A Short History of Harmonization 2

1.1.1 The Green Paper on Copyright and the Challenge of Technology 5

1.1.2 The Green Paper on Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society 7

1.1.3 The Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy 9

1.2 Legislative Competence of the EC 11

1.2.1 Legal Bases for Action and the Attribution Principle 12

1.2.2 Legal Bases for Copyright Regulation in the EC Treaty 13

1.2.3 EU Copyright and International Obligations 15

1.2.4 Subsidiarity and Proportinality 19

1.3 From Ambitions of Law 23

1.3.1 Proportionality in Practice 23

1.3.2 Agenda Setting Transparency 27

Chapter 2 Object, Subject, and Duration of Protection 31

2.1 Protected Subject Matter 31

2.1.1 The International Context 32

2.1.1.1 Copyright Works 32

2.1.1.2 Related Rights Subject Matter 33

2.1.2 The Acquis Communautaire 34

2.1.2.1 Copyright Works 34

2.1.2.2 Related Rights Subject Matter 37

2.1.3 Assessment 39

2.1.3.1 Works of Authorship 39

2.1.3.2 Persistence of Various Local Forms of Protection 43

2.1.3.3 Definition of Broadcast as Protected Subject Matter 45

2.2 Authors, Performers, and Other Right Owners 47

2.2.1 The International Context 48

2.2.2 The Acquis Communautaire 49

2.2.2.1 Initial Ownership of Works of Authorship 49

2.2.2.2 Initial Ownership of Related Rights 51

2.2.3 Assessment 53

2.2.3.1 Lack of Precise Standards to Determine the Object and Subject of Related Rights Protection 53

2.2.3.2 The Selective Presumptions on Transfers of Rights 55

2.3 Duration of Protection 55

2.3.1 The International Context 56

2.3.1.1 Copyright 56

2.3.1.2 Related Rights 57

2.3.2 The Acquis Communautaire 57

2.3.2.1 Copyright 58

2.3.2.2 Related Rights 60

2.3.2.3 Sui Generis Databases 61

2.3.3 Assessment 61

2.3.2.4 Why Term Harmonization Is Partly Cosmetic 62

2.3.2.5 Method of Calculation for Performers Rights 64

2.4 Conclusions 64

Chapter 3 Exclusive Rights and Limitations 67

3.1 Exclusive Rights 67

3.1.1 The International Context 69

3.1.1.1 Reproduction Rights 69

3.1.1.2 Adaptation Rights 70

3.1.1.3 Distribution Rights 70

3.1.1.4 Communication to the Public Rights 71

3.1.2 The Acquis Communautaire 73

3.1.2.1 Reproduction Rights 73

3.1.2.2 Distribution Rights 76

3.1.2.3 Communication to the Public Rights 81

3.1.2.4 Adaptation 83

3.1.3 Assessment 84

3.1.3.1 Scope of the Reproduction Right 84

3.1.3.2 Scope of the Distribution Right 89

3.1.3.3 Rental and Lending Rights 90

3.1.3.4 Making Available Versus Broadcasting 90

3.1.3.5 Meaning of Communication to the 'Public' 91

3.1.3.6 Exclusive Rights Left to Member States' Discretion 94

3.2 Coherence of Exceptions and Limitations 94

3.2.1 The International Context 95

3.2.2 The Acquis Communautaire 98

3.2.3 Assessment 101

3.2.3.1 Exhaustive List of Limitations 102

3.2.3.2 Optional Character of the Limitations 104

3.2.3.3 Contractual Overridability of Limitations 106

3.2.3.4 Transient and Incidental Acts of Reproduction 109

3.2.3.5 Three-Step Test 113

3.2.3.6 Lawful Acquirer or User? 114

3.2.3.7 Private Copying 117

3.3 Collective Rights Management 119

3.3.1 Compulsory Collective Management of Cable Retransmission Rights 120

3.3.2 Other Harmonized Rules on Collective Rights Management 123

3.3.3 Assessment 124

3.4 Conclusions 126

3.4.1 Rights and Limitations 126

3.4.2 Collective Rights Management 130

Chapter 4 Rights Management Information and Technological Protection Measures 131

4.1 Nature and Function of TPMs and RMI 131

4.2 Rights Management Information 133

4.3 Technological Protection Measures 136

4.3.1 The International Context 136

4.3.1.1 United States 139

4.3.1.2 Australia 142

4.3.1.3 Japan 145

4.3.1.4 Switzerland 150

4.3.2 The Acquis Communautaire 152

4.3.2.1 Definition of 'Effective Technological Protection Measure' 154

4.3.2.2 Protection Against Acts of Circumvention 156

4.4 Assessment and Conclusions 175

Chapter 5 Term Extension for Sound Recordings 181

5.1 Arguments Based on the Nature and Objectives of Related Rights 183

5.1.1 Subject Matter and Scope of Protection 185

5.1.2 Objectives of Protection 186

5.1.2.1 Performers 187

5.1.2.2 Phonogram Producers 190

5.2 Economic Arguments 194

5.2.1 Term Limitation and Economic Rationale 195

5.2.1.1 A Temporary Monopoly 195

5.2.1.2 Costs Associated with a Term Extension 196

5.2.1.3 The Incentive Paradigm 198

5.2.2 Economic Analysis 200

5.2.2.1 Phonogram Producers' Ability to Recoup Investment 200

5.2.2.2 Phonogram Producers' Ability to Invest in New Talent 203

5.2.2.3 Impact on Access and Cultural Diversity 207

5.2.2.4 Impact on Competition and Innovation 209

5.2.2.5 Impact on Licensing Costs and Consumer Prices 210

5.2.2.6 Performing Artists' Ability to Generate Adequate Income 212

5.3 Arguments Concerning Competition with Non-EU Market Players 216

5.3.1 Term of Protection of EU Trade Partners 217

5.3.2 Competitive Disadvantage Due to Comparison of Terms 219

5.3.2.1 Comparison of Terms 219

5.3.2.2 Effect of National Treatment Obligations under the Rome Convention and WPPT 220

5.3.2.3 Reciprocal Terms of Protection Outside the EU 221

5.3.3 Impact on Competitiveness and Cultural Diversity 223

5.4 Assessment and Conclusions 227

5.4.1 Arguments Based on the Nature and Objectives of Related Rights 227

5.4.2 Economic Arguments 229

5.4.3 International Competition Arguments 231

5.4.4 Conclusions 233

Chapter 6 Term Calculation for Co-written Musical Works 235

6.1 EU Member States' Models for Multiple Authorship 236

6.1.1 Co-written Music as Unitary Work 238

6.1.2 Co-written Music as Multiple Works 240

6.1.3 Co-written Music as Collaborative Work 240

6.1.4 Exceptions to Separate Calculation of Terms 242

6.1.5 Conclusions 243

6.2 Interests Affected by Diverging Terms of Protection 243

6.2.1 Arguments of Right Holders for Legislative Intervention 245

6.2.2 Problems with Term Calculation in Practice 247

6.2.3 Collectively Licensed Music 248

6.2.4 Individually Licensed Music 250

6.3 The Proposed Special Term Calculation Rule 251

6.3.1 Term Calculation for Audiovisual Works 252

6.3.2 Split-Term Calculation for Co-written Music 253

6.4 Alternative Approaches 255

6.4.1 Contractual Arrangements 257

6.4.2 Harmonization of Substantive Law 257

6.4.3 Private International Law Rule 259

6.5 Conclusions 260

Chapter 7 Orphan Works 263

7.1 The Problem of Orphan Works 265

7.1.1 Background 266

7.1.2 Drivers of the Problem 267

7.1.3 Practical Importance of the Problem 270

7.1.4 Need for Regulatory Intervention? 272

7.2 Solutions to the Problem of Orphan Works 273

7.2.1 Preventing Further Expansion of the Problem of Orphan Works 273

7.2.1.1 Metadata Tagging of Digital Content 274

7.2.1.2 Use of Creative Commons-Like Licenses 276

7.2.1.3 Voluntary Registration of RMI 277

7.2.1.4 Specific Databases for Orphan Works 277

7.2.2 Contractual Arrangements with Copyright Collectives 278

7.2.2.1 Extended Collective Licensing 279

7.2.2.2 Legal Presumption of Representation 280

7.2.2.3 Contracts with Indemnity Clauses 281

7.2.2.4 Mandatory Collective Rights Management 282

7.2.3 Orphan Works: Tailored Legislative Solutions 282

7.2.3.1 Licensing by Public Authorities to Enable the Use of Orphan Works 283

7.2.3.2 Mandatory Collective Licensing of Orphan Works 286

7.2.3.3 Limitation-on-Remedy Rule 288

7.2.3.4 Statutory Exception or Limitation 292

7.3 Assessment and Conclusions 294

Chapter 8 The Blessings and Curses of Harmonization 297

8.1 Two Decades of Harmonization: A Critical Evaluation 297

8.2 Inconsistencies in the Acquis 301

8.2.1 Work of Authorship and other Subject Matter 302

8.2.2 Authorship and Ownership 303

8.2.3 Economic Rights 303

8.2.4 Duration of Rights 304

8.2.5 Limitations and Exceptions 304

8.2.6 Rights Management Information and Technological Protection Measures 305

8.3 Conclusion 305

Chapter 9 The Last Frontier: Territoriality 307

9.1 EC Law's Struggles with Territoriality 308

9.1.1 Exhaustion 311

9.1.2 Home Country Rule 313

9.1.3 Competition Law 314

9.2 Towards a Community Copyright? 316

9.2.1 Competence Issues 317

9.2.2 Normative Issues 321

Selected Bibliography 327

Table of European Court of Justice Cases and Opinions 349

Table of EC Legislation and Materials 355

Index 365