ISPA Annual Conference Copyright Paddy Gardiner, Partner in the Media Group Eversheds LLP 30 October 2007
ISPA Annual Conference Copyright The rights in question Legislative Overview Infringing acts Defences The Scarlet decision Looking ahead Gowers Review/review of the E-commerce Directive Self regulation: ISPs’ role – Gatekeepers/Copyright Police? Government intervention The view from the USA
ISPA Annual Conference The relevant rights Copyright: music (sound recordings and publishing) film (studios, directors and producers) broadcasts Related rights: moral rights performers’ rights third parties
ISPA Annual Conference Infringing Acts The Reproduction (copying) Right (s.17 CDPA 1988) The Communication to the Public Right (s.20 CDPA) “Authorising” copyright infringement (s.16(2) CDPA – the CBS Songs v Amstrad guidelines*) Applicability to ISPs, UGC providers and auction websites: the OiNK shut down *CBS Songs Limited v Amstrad Consumer Electronics Plc [1988] AC 1013
ISPA Annual Conference Defences Section 28A CDPA – “temporary copies” E-commerce Directive Art. 12 “mere conduit” Art. 13 “caching” Art. 14 “hosting” Art. 15 “no obligation to monitor” Substantial part/incidental inclusion/fair dealing/ (ss. 16(3), 30 and 31 CDPA) Copyright Directive/Section 97A CDPA – actual knowledge required “Injunction against a service provider … [with] actual knowledge of another person using their service to infringe copyright” Notification under the E-commerce Regulations 2002 a prerequisite BPI threats/4 year anniversary
ISPA Annual Conference SABAM v Scarlet – June 2007 Scarlet ordered to “end violations of copyright, by rendering impossible all transmission or reception by P2P software of electronic files containing musical works of artists from the SABAM catalogue” No “active” blocking or filtering of customer activity required? Threat of daily fine of €2,500 Wider applicability?
ISPA Annual Conference Looking Ahead Gowers Review – Recommendation 39 – “Observe the industry agreement of protocols for sharing data between ISPs and rights holders to remove and disbar users engaged in ‘piracy’. If this has not proved operationally successful by the end of 2007, Government should consider whether to legislate.” “Value recognition right” Self-regulation: ISPs’ role – Gatekeepers/Copyright Police? Stockholm Network Report The UK Government’s position
ISPA Annual Conference Looking Ahead cont … European Commission review of the E-commerce Directive - due mid-2008 The view from the USA: YouTube Video ID, UGC Principles, MPAA, Comcast’s approach
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