For the moment, the EU has rejected a copyright law proposal that would have put more responsibility on websites to check for copyright infringements and made online platforms pay for linking to news stories.
Law professor Shubha Ghosh is director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute. His extensive research focuses on the development and commercialization of intellectual property and technology as a means of promoting economic and social development.
Ghosh says:
“The European Parliament rejected proposed legislation that would have imposed a tax on tech companies like Facebook that linked to content (link tax) and would have required companies to implement technology to screen copyrighted content from being uploaded to their platforms. The legislature was promoted by copyright societies representing artists, authors, and composers and will now be redrafted for reconsideration by the EU in September.
“The U.S. has dealt with these issues through the courts. Linking is generally found not to constitute copyright infringement, often protected as fair use. Screening technology has been voluntarily adopted by platform companies to avoid liability for copyright infringement. Extended litigation between Viacom and YouTube addressed issues of copyright liability with YouTube adopting ContentID technology in the late 2000’s to help monitor and takedown copyright infringing content. Facebook and other platforms use similar technologies. The use of screening technology has been voluntary rather than mandatory, contrasting with the rejected proposal in the EU.
“The impetus for the EU legislation is the concern among authors, artists, and composers that they are not being adequately compensated for use of their copyrighted work online. In the U.S., such issues have been addressed through copyright enforcement against unauthorized uploads and downloads of content and the creation of digital rights going back to amendments to the copyright law in 1996. The recently passed Music Modernization Act extends protection to streaming of sound recordings, an issue of long-term and ongoing controversy in the courts and Congress.”
To request interviews or get more information:
Daryl Lovell
Media Relations Manager
Division of Communications and Marketing
T 315.443.1184 M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell
820 Comstock Avenue, Suite 308, Syracuse, NY 13244
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu
Syracuse University
In a recent commentary for Breaking Defense, Sean O’Keefe, University Professor in the Maxwell School, noted the opening of President Ronald Reagan’s first inaugural address in 1981, where the Republican observed that the peaceful and orderly transfer of national authority…
Legendary music publishing executive and Life Trustee Martin Bandier ’62 has made a substantial gift to establish the most prestigious scholarship program available to students aspiring to careers in the music industry. The gift, the latest in support of Forever…
In keeping with the tradition of producing community-focused, quality journalism for Central New York, the news team at WAER 88.3FM, Syracuse University’s Public Radio Station, produced 48 stories related to the 2020 election in the final two months of the…
If members of the press are looking for insight and historical perspective on how the withdrawal of U.S. troops impacts the Middle East, and/or the report that President Trump considered attacking Iran to stop its growing nuclear program, Middle East…
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was ambitious federal legislation designed to promote employment inclusion, along with increased civic and social opportunity in other areas of daily life, by reducing attitudinal and structural barriers for people with disabilities….
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
