Copyright Law Changes and Developments in Digital Network Era

Abstract

This chapter elaborates on the interrelationship of the changes in copyright laws with technology development and illustrates the continuous expansion of copyright protection in the digital network era. Since advancement in digital technologies simplifies and accelerates the reproduction and dissemination of information, authors thus demand more protection granted by copyright laws to safeguard their creations against pirating and their commercial interests from infringement. This chapter introduces the development and adaptation of international copyright conventions under the digital network environment by focusing on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Internet Treaties and takes the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of the United States and the Information Society Directive of the European Union as examples to discuss the changes and amendments in the copyright protection systems of the developed regions. The expansion of copyright protection has excessively focused on the interests of right holders and neglected the overall cultural construction and social progress based on free flow of information. By introducing updates in the copyright protection system in China based on legislative, administrative, judicial, and alternative perspectives, this chapter further points out the potential leadership role of the developing countries especially China in the new round of copyright reforms to recover a balance of interest between copyright holders and public users, and to address public interests and social justice which are important purposes and functions of a copyright system.