LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE INTERNET

This thesis will explain the legal aspects of the Internet so that users who wish to protect their rights and avoid liability can log on with a better understanding of the rules of the game. This work will be divided into two chapters. The first chapter will focus on existing legal regulation of the Internet to advise users on which law is relevant, and how to solve problems of conflicts of laws in the cyberworld. It will answer the question of whether cyberspace is, or not, a no laws land , and what kind of regulation would better fit the cyberworld. This first chapter will also warn users on their potential liability on the Internet, the liability of the final user, and of the provider. The second chapter will describe what is the legal utilization of the Internet by users and authors, to warn them, first of all, on where is the limit between normal use of a work and infringement of copyright, and second of all, on what kind of speech they are allowed to load. The Internet raises, indeed, many problems of copyright infringement, but also many questions relative to the principle of Freedom of Speech. After having answered all these questions, this work will conclude, that Governments should respect the initial goal of the Internet -a free flow of information-, and not try to muzzle it within adapted regulation. The users of the Internet are the best placed to organize a regulation that will best fit this new medium and great, medium of expression

The Digital Difference: Responsible Conduct of Research in a Networked World

This handbook, sponsored by the University of Kansas Graduate School's Responsible Conduct of Research program, provides an introduction to a variety of issues faced by those who teach, design, conduct, disseminate, or preserve research in a digital environment. Includes discussions of information literacy instruction, design of Web-based survey research, copyright and fair use, licensing of electronic journals, new models for copyright management and scholarly communication, and planning for preservation of digital information.KU Center for Research, University of Kansas Graduate School, Council of Graduate School

Is TPM a dirty word? Digital rights management-systems and video games within the EU

Dator- och TV-spel är relativt nyligen introducerade och komplext utformade verk, vilket innebär en utmaning avseende upphovsrättsligt skydd. I huvudsak består ett sådant spel av ett flertal olika upphovsrättsliga alster, inkluderande programvaran, som är oupplösligt sammansatta i en och samma produkt. Detta leder till att den upphovsrättsliga klassificeringen varierar beroende på aktuell jurisdiktion, då harmonisering ännu inte har uppnåtts inom EU avseende sådana verk. Den upphovsrättsliga klassificeringen av dator- och TV-spel påverkar tillämpligheten av EU:s upphovsrättsliga skyddsåtgärdslagstiftning och därmed även utvärderingen av de elektroniska system (DRM-system) som används för att förvalta digitala rättigheter. Då denna utvärdering utgör en signifikant del i detta arbete, var ett försök till klargörande påkallat. Det visades att det föreligger indikationer på att dator- och TV-spel inte bör betraktas som enbart programvara, utan snarare bedömas vara en komplex sammanslagning av olika intellektuella verk. Den snabba tekniska utvecklingen har gjort det jämförelsevis lätt att få obehörig tillgång till och nyttja upphovsrättsskyddat material, vilket resulterat i en växande illegal konsumtion av dator- och TV-spel. För att motverka detta och skydda sina ensamrätter nyttjar rättighetshavare vissa system för elektronisk förvaltning av digitala rättigheter, DRM-system, avsedda att begränsa eller helt förhindra obehörig åtkomst och användning. Av de rättsligt skyddade verktyg som används uppfattas särskilt de tekniska skyddsåtgärderna (TPMs) av legitima slutanvändare som alltför restriktiva då de både begränsar åtkomst till och komplicerar användningen av dator- och TV-spelet, inbegripet handlingar som inte kräver rättsinnehavarens tillstånd. Effekten av implementerade DRM-system, särskilt TPMs, på den illegala konsumtionen och på slutanvändarnas attityder illustreras som ett led i utvärderingen av de facto effektiviteten av TPMs. Det hävdas att TPMs inte tillräckligt effektivt förhindrar den illegala konsumtionen, och vissa forskare vill även mena att användandet av TPMs kan öka omfattningen av upphovsrättsintrång, sprunget ur ett växande missnöje med dessa inom dator- och TV-spelar forum. En annan aspekt av implementering av DRM-system, särskilt TPMs, är den potentiella konflikt som uppkommer genom att rättighetshavarens fundamentala rätt till egendom ställs mot slutanvändarens fundamentala rätt till yttrande- och informationsfrihet. Detta berättigade en utredning av huruvida TPMs gör intrång i slutanvändarens fundamentala rättigheter, och, om så är fallet, ifall detta kan anses utgöra en otillåten kränkning. Det framkommer att TPMs kan anses göra intrång i rätten till yttrande- och informationsfrihet, men rådande rättspraxis finner inte att sådana intrång innebär otillåten kränkning, men verkar däremot inte helt prekludera denna möjlighet.The video game poses a challenge in terms of copyright protection due to the complexity and novelty of its nature, in essence being comprised of multiple copyrightable elements, resulting in jurisdictionally diverse legal classification and harmonisation within the EU is not yet achieved. As the varying options of copyright classification of video game affects the applicability of EU anti-circumvention law, and thus, the evaluation of digital rights management-systems, which is an important part of this thesis, clarification was called for. It was found that there are indications that a video game should not be considered a mere computer program, but rather a complex amalgamation of intellectual works. The rapid technological development has made it comparably easy to gain unauthorised access to and use of copyrighted content, resulting in a growing illegal consumption of video games. To counter this, right holders implement digital rights management-systems (DRM-systems) to protect and manage their exclusive rights through restricting or preventing unauthorised access and use. Of tools used, technological protection measures (TPMs) in particular are from a lawful end-user perspective perceived as over-restrictive, complicating and limiting the access and the use of the video game, including acts that do not require right holder authorisation. In light of this, the impact of implemented DRM-systems, TPMs in particular, on illegal consumption and end-user’s attitudes is illustrated and the de facto effectiveness of TPMs evaluated. It is argued that TPMs are not truly effective in preventing illegal consumption – indeed some scholars suggest that TPMs might even increase the magnitude of copyright infringement following increasing levels of discontent within the video gaming community. Another aspect to the implementation of DRM-systems, specifically TPMs, is the potential conflict created as the right holder’s fundamental right of property is pitted against the end-user’s fundamental right of freedom of expression and information. This called for the application of a fundamental rights perspective, investigating whether TPMs may be interfering with end-users fundamental rights and, if so, whether it is considered a violation or not. It is shown that TPMs can interfere with the right of freedom of expression and information, but so far relevant case law implies that such interference is not considered a violation, in part due to the wide margin of appreciation awarded EU Member States. However, current case law does not seem entirely preclude that as a possible future outcome. In conclusion, TPMs does not only inconvenience lawful end-users whilst being de facto ineffective in preventing illegal consumption of video games, but TPMs also interferes with end-user fundamental rights, although violation has not been confirmed. It is thus proposed that TPMs in their current format may not be the preferred solution to counter video game piracy and ensure right holder exclusive rights

An Investigation into the Australian Position on Software Copyright

Copyright Is the primary means most software authors seek to protect their software. Software, that is work (the ordered expression of thought) put into some tangible form (such a being written down, stored in a computer, programs, data and distributed files) is a truly international product. Where does this copyright protection come from? The current governing laws in Australia are the Australian Copyright Act of 1968 (Cwlth) and the Australian Copyright Amendments Act 1984 (Cwlth) which afford copyright protection to computer software. In copyright law, a number of words and terms have specialised meanings, which are different to their meanings in everyday language. These terms are important for determining the scope of copyright law. Including the types of material that are protected by copyright and the types of activities that infringe copyright, they are examined in this thesis. In Australia, copyright protection to is relatively easily, cheap and has been designed so as to be a powerful deterrent to software pirates, in many nations it is completely automatic. Yet independent research conducted by the Business Software Association of Australia (see Chapter 2) estimated that total losses to the software industry from software piracy In Australia in 1992 could have been as high as $400 million dollars. On this basis alone the clarification of how copyright is applied to afford protection to computer software is a worthy undertaking. Copyright experts around the world are debating, discussing, conferencing, writing and publishing their views on the direction that copyright law must take to meet the challenges posed by the new modes of communication. The only thing that can be agreed upon is that technology has outpaced the effectiveness of the Australia\u27s Software Copyright Laws. Part of this debate today is not about the need for copyright to cover authors from abuse of their work it is about whether software copyright stretches far enough to protect the rights of the authors. In an Australian context this poses the questions: • \u27What Is the Australian position on Software Copyright? • \u27What is the Australian position on Software Copyright in the advent of the Information Age? • How effective are these positions? • How will these positions stand up to challenges? This thesis, the result of extended descriptive research activity examines these questions in detail. Additionally H considers how the recommendations of the Australian Copyright Law Review Committee for changes to the Australian Copyright Act of 1968 (Cwlth) to afford suitable protection to software and computer programs If enacted in legislation will alter Australia\u27s current position on Software Copyright and impact on the future of the copyright doctrine

Mecanismos para la cristalización del conocimiento, una propuesta mediante un sistema de trabajo colaborativo

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,. Escuela Politécnica Superior, Departamento de Ingeniería Informática. Fecha de lectura: 17-09-200