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Intellectual Property Boston College Law School February 1, 2008 Copyright – Digital Issues
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Third Party Liability Contributory Liability –1. Knowledge of infringing activity –2. Induce, causes, or materially contributes Vicarious Liability –1. Right and ability to supervise –2. Direct financial interest in infringing activity Inducement –1. Intention to induce infringement –2. Affirmative steps to facilitate infringement
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Third Party Liability Historical Contexts –Swap Meets –Dance Halls –Landlords Modern Equivalents –On-line Auctions (e.g. E-Bay) –Web Hosting (e.g. Facebook) –Internet Search (e.g. Google) –Credit Card Companies (e.g. Visa)
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Policy Issues Why Third Party Liability? –Facilitate enforcement –Third parties may be morally culpable –Deter third parties from harmul activity Why Not Third Party Liability? –Imposes costs on third parties (e.g. monitoring) –Not always fair to impose burden –Not always efficient for third parties to enforce
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Sony v. Universal “capable of substantial non-infringing uses”
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Hypo: Napster
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Napster Technology Napster File Names, IP Addresses MP3s
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Questions How would you analyze this under the doctrines for third party liability? –Contributory liability –Vicarious liability How would you apply Sony to this case? What is the correct result?
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Open Questions How much is “substantial”? What do we mean by “capable”? Is this the right standard?
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Digital Copyright How is digital technology different? –Copying costs near zero –Distribution costs near zero –Copies are perfect –Search costs are low
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Digital Copyright Legislative Changes –Audio Home Recording Act (1992) –DPRSRA (1995) –No Electronic Theft Act (1997) –Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998)
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AHRA (1992) Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA) –Response to introduction of DAT in 1980s –Basic provisions Manufacturers can sell digital recording devices Consumers can make personal, noncommercial copies Devices must include serial copy prevention technology Royalty charged on devices and recording media –Does not cover Computer hard drives or CD burners Blank CDs MP3 Players (Diamond Multimedia case)
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DPRSRA (1995) Digital Performance of Sound Recordings –New right given to sound recordings –Covers digital performances of such E.g. cable radio, direct satellite radio, internet radio Where digital radio received via subscription –Rights depend on type of performance Where interactively on-demand, must get license Where non-interactive broadcast, compulsory license –Recall: must also get musical work rights, too
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NET (1997) No Electronic Theft Act (1997) –Increased scope of criminal sanctions –Response to LaMacchia case Formerly, required commercial advantage Case where uploaded software for free; no liablity –Change so that based on retail value of works More than $1,000 of copyrighted works Within 180 day period
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DMCA (1998) Digital Millennium Copyright Act –Technological protection mechanisms Anti-circumvention provisions Anti-device provisions –Copyright management information –ISP liability provisions
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DMCA (1998) Anti-circumvention provisions –Separate liability for acts of circumvention Independent of copyright infringement List of narrow defenses, but no fair use defense –Applies to access and copy control technology –Copyright Office can exempt certain works Anti-trafficking provisions –Bars distribution of circumvention technologies –Where primary purpose is to facilitate infringement
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DMCA (1998) ISP Provisions –Safe harbor for transmission and caching –Safe harbor for hosting content Notice and take-down procedure Immune from direct and contributory suits –Subpoena power
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Administrative Next Assignment –Finish II.H – Digital Copyright
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