中文摘要 |
在日本,使用電視接收和錄製設備、並透過網路提供海外觀眾觀賞電視節目的服務,被指控為侵犯廣播公司的著作權。對上述所指控的服務之訴訟判決中,日本最高法院指出:重製權與公開傳輸權的範圍被擴展到相當大的程度時,應保留法律追溯責任。無庸置疑地,這對著作權擁有者而言是件好事。但無論這樣的擴展是否更進一步地促成網路空間和文化的發展,在法律上仍是個有所爭議的問題。本文將探討這類服務的侵權議題,並追溯其訴訟案件的歷史,檢驗日本最高法院對於透過網路提供服務的著作權保護之判決蘊含。
In Japan, the services that maintain the television reception and recording device for the overseas viewers to watch the aired television programs over the Internet were accused of as infringing the copyrights of the broadcasting companies. The judgments of the Supreme Court of Japan in copyright infringement suits against these services holding them liable significantly expanded the scope of right of reproduction and right of public transmission. These judgments are surely a blessing for copyright holders. But there is a legitimate question whether such expansion would contribute to the further development of the cyberspace and development of culture. This article explores the copyright infringement issues these services presented, traces the history of the suits and examines the implications of the judgments of the Supreme Court of Japan for the protection of copyright over the Internet. |