EU Copyright Law: Developing Exceptions and Limitations Systematically – An Analysis of Recent Legislative Proposals

Tūbaitė-Stalauskienė, Asta

doi:10.2478/bjlp-2018-0014

Abstract

In the European Union, Copyright law is not uniform. There are a number of EU Directives concerning copyright law, which form an exhaustive list of limitations and exceptions, most of which are optional. The optional nature of limitations and exceptions is a significant obstacle to effective harmonisation in the Member States, which creates legal uncertainty for rightsholders and users. The aim of this article is to examine limitations and exceptions under the current EU copyright law, to analyse what efforts the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament have undertaken in order to reform EU copyright and to present other possible options for reform regarding exceptions and limitations in the EU.

References

1. Dreier, Thomas. “The Wittem project of a European copyright code”: 292–313. in: Christophe Geiger, ed. Constructing European intellectual property. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2013.10.4337/9781781001646.00027
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
2. Geiger, Christophe. “Limitations and exceptions as key elements of the legal framework for copyright in the European Union: opinion of the European Copyright Society on the judgment of the CJEU in case C-201/13, Deckmyn.” International review of intellectual property and competition law 46 (1) (2015): 3–101.10.1007/s40319-015-0297-0
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
3. Hilty, Reto M., and Kaya Köklü. “Limitations and exceptions to copyright in the digital age: four cornerstones for a future-proof legal framework in the EU”: 283–298. in: Irini A. Stamatoudi, ed. New developments in EU and international copyright law. Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands: Kluwer Law International, 2016.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
4. Jütte, Bernd Justin. Reconstructing European copyright law for the digital single market: between old paradigms and digital challenges. Nomos, 2017.10.5771/9783845278759
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
5. Usadel, Philipp. Copyright law and the access to education and knowledge in the digital age: matching limitations and exceptions in Portugal, Brazil and Mozambique. Dissertation. Maastricht University: Shaker, 2016.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
6. Vickers, Brian. “Francis Bacon and the Progress of Knowledge.” Journal of the History of Ideas 53 (3) (1992): 495–518.10.2307/2709891
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
7. World Health Organization. “Global data on visual impairment 2010” (January 2012) // https://www.who.int/blindness/GLOBALDATAFINALforweb.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
1. ACI Adam BV and Others v Stichting de Thuiskopie and Stichting Onderhandelingen Thuiskopie vergoeding. CJEU, EU:C:2014:254.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
2. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Annex 1C of Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. Opened for signature 15 April 1994, 1869 UNTS 299 (entered into force 27 January 1980).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
3. Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and artistic Works. Opened for signature 9 September 1886, 1161 UNTS 30 (entered into force 29 January 1970).
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
4. Commission Staff Working Document - Impact Assessment on the modernisation of EU copyright rules - Accompanying the document “Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market” and “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and retransmissions of television and radio programmes”. SWD(2016)301 // http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1512824918056&uri=CELEX:52016SC0301.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
5. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe. COM(2015) 192 final, 6.5.2015.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
6. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Towards a modern, more European copyright framework. COM(2015) 626 final, 2.12.2015.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
7. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Promoting a fair, efficient and competitive European copyright-based economy in the Digital Single Market. COM(2016)592.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
8. Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. OL C 326, 26.10.2012, p. 47.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
9. Council Directive 93/83/EEC of 27 September 1993 on the coordination of certain rules concerning copyright and rights related to copyright applicable to satellite broadcasting and cable retransmission. OJ L 248, 6.10.1993, p. 15.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
10. Directive (EU) 2017/1564 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2017 on certain permitted uses of certain works and other subject matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print-disabled and amending Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. OL L 242, 20.9.2017, p. 6.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
11. Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. OJ L 167, 22.6.2001, p. 10–19.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
12. Directive 2001/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art. OL L 272, 3/10/2001, p. 32 – 36.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
13. Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights. OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 45.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
14. Directive 2006/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the field of intellectual property. OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, p. 28–35.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
15. Directive 2006/116/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights. OL L 372, 27.12.2006, p. 12.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
16. Directive 2009/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the legal protection of computer programs. OJ L 111, 5.5.2009, p. 16–22.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
17. Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works. OJ L 299, 27.10.2012, p. 5–12.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
18. Directive 2014/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market. OJ L 84, 20.3.2014, p. 72–98.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
19. Directive 96/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases. OJ L 77, 27.03.1996, p. 20-28.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
20. Eva-Maria Painer v Standard VerlagsGmbH and Others. CJEU, EU:C:2011:798.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
21. Football Association Premier League Ltd and Others v QC Leisure and Others (C-403/08) and Karen Murphy v Media Protection Services Ltd (C-429/08). CJEU, EU:C:2011:631.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
22. Infopaq International A/S v Danske Dagblades Forening. CJEU, Judgment in Case C-5/08, EU:C:2009:465.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
23. Infopaq International A/S v Danske Dagblades Forening. CJEU, Judgment in Case C-302/10, EU:C:2012:16.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
24. Johan Deckmyn and Vrijheidsfonds VZW v Helena Vandersteen and Others. CJEU, EU:C:2014:2132.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
25. Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled. Opened for signature 27 june 2013, 52 ILM 1309.10.5305/intelegamate.52.6.1309
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
26. Padawan SL v Sociedad General de Autores y Editores de España (SGAE). CJEU, EU:C:2010:620.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
27. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market. COM(2016) 593.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
28. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain permitted uses of works and other subject-matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled and amending Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. COM(2016) 596.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
29. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and retransmissions of television and radio programmes. COM(2016) 594.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
30. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the cross-border exchange between the Union and third countries of accessible format copies of certain works and other subject-matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. COM(2016) 595.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
31. Public Consultation on the Review of the EU Copyright Rules // http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/consultations/2013/copyright-rules/docs/consultation-document_en.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
32. Regulation (EU) 2017/1128 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market. OL L 168, 30.6.2017, p. 1–11.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
33. Regulation (EU) 2017/1563 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2017 on the cross-border exchange between the Union and third countries of accessible format copies of certain works and other subject matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print-disabled. OL L 242, 20.9.2017, p. 1-5.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
34. Report on the responses to the Public Consultation on the Review of the EU Copyright Rules // http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/consultations/2013/copyright-rules/docs/contributions/consultation-report_en.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
35. Study on the application of Directive 2001/29/EC on copyright and related rights in the information society // http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/studies/index_en.htm.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
36. Study on the legal framework of text and data mining // http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/docs/studies/1403_study2_en.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
37. Survey in the context of the study on “Assessment of the impact of the European copyright framework on digitally-supported education and training practices” // http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/assessment-of-the-impact-of-the-european-copyright-framework-on-digitally-supported-education-and-training-practices-pbNC0115883/.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
38. Technische Universität Darmstadt v Eugen Ulmer KG. CJEU, EU:C:2014:2196.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
39. The Netherlands House of Representatives answers to the questions about the package of new EU rules on copyright //http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/parlements_nationaux/com/2016/0593/NL_CHAMBER_CONT1-COM%282016%290593_EN.pdf.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
40. The Opinion on the proposal for a Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection // http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-599.682+02+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
41. The Opinion on the proposal for a Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy // http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-592.363+03+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
42. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN General Assembly, United Nations, 217 (III) A, 1948, Paris.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

EU Copyright Law: Developing Exceptions and Limitations Systematically – An Analysis of Recent Legislative Proposals

Abstract

Paradigm

My account