copyright, technology and the cjeu an empirical study · eu framework of rights and exceptions i)...

Copyright, Technology and the CJEU An Empirical Study

Tito Rendas

1. Background 2. Research questions 3. Empirical study 4. Conclusions

1. Background

technology-enabled uses

scope of rights + exceptions

EU framework of rights and exceptions

i)   Economic rights with broad scope ii)   Broad interpretation of rights iii)   Rule-like exceptions iv)   Strict interpretation of exceptions v)  Closed catalogue of exceptions vi)  Restrictive three-step test

critique

lack of flexibility

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technological innovation

yet courts decide flexibly

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Vorschaubilder I

thumbnails

“simple consent”

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Megakini v. Google Spain

caching

good faith +

abuse of rights +

ius usus inocui

no “absurd” conclusions

strict interpretation

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“liberal”

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2. Research questions

Research question #1: What is the relative prevalence of infringing and non-infringing outcomes?

Research question #2: Is the CJEU abiding by the constraints or is it deciding flexibly?

3. Empirical study

research sample

Criterion #1: Decisions on the lawfulness of technology-enabled uses

Criterion #2: Decisions that turn on at least one of the six constraints

21 cases

27 tech-enabled uses

InfoSoc (17)

Software (3)

Rental & Lending (1)

reproduction (11)

communication (10)

public lending (1)

methodology

content analysis

coding

findings

infringing vs. non-infringing

infringing vs. non-infringing (11) (16)

41%

59% 56%

44%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Infringing Non-infringing

CJEU AG

flexible vs. inflexible

flexible vs. inflexible (71%) (29%)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Narrow interpretation of right

Broad interpretation of exception(s)

No/summary assessment of three-

step test

Creation of exception / users' right

4. Conclusions

legal certainty

fair use

the end. tito.rendas@gmail.com