Finding the Flaws in Copyright When Confronted with Neuro-Technologies and Brain Data
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Finding the flaws in copyright when confronted with neuro-technologies and brain data How neuro-technologies and the protection of brain data change the basic conceptions found in copyright by shaking the structure of the idea-expression dichotomy in both Dutch and European Union law LL.M Law and Technology Tilburg Law School Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society Tilburg University 2018 Student: Supervisors: Radha M. Pull ter Gunne Mr. Ir. Maurice H.M. Schellekens ANR: 776988 and SNR: 1256360 Dr. Sabrina Röttiger-Wirtz Table of Contents Finding the flaws in copyright when confronted with neuro-technologies and brain data .... 1 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ..................................................................................... 5 Chapter One .......................................................................................................................... 6 Introducing the EEG, its brain data and copyright ............................................................ 6 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 The aim of the research ................................................................................................. 9 1.3 Scope ........................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Research questions ...................................................................................................... 14 1.5 Significance ................................................................................................................ 14 1.6 Methodology ............................................................................................................... 17 1.7 Outline ........................................................................................................................ 18 Chapter Two ....................................................................................................................... 19 The Technology: EEG and Brain Data ............................................................................. 19 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 19 2.2 The electroencephalograph (EEG) .............................................................................. 19 2.2.1 Brain-Computer Interface .................................................................................... 20 2.2.2 Brain conversion .................................................................................................. 21 2.3 The types of brain data ................................................................................................ 22 2.3.1 Brainwaves ........................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2 Raw brain data ...................................................................................................... 23 2.3.3 Inferences on raw brain data ................................................................................ 24 2.4 The state-of-the-art technology and its developments from past to future ................. 26 2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 28 2 Chapter Three ..................................................................................................................... 29 The Law: Copyright and the Idea/Expression Dichotomy ................................................... 29 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 The basic assumptions underlying this research ......................................................... 29 3.3 Rationales of copyright ............................................................................................... 30 3.3.1 The benefits of copyright protection for brain data.............................................. 31 3.3.2 The drawbacks of copyright protection for brain data ......................................... 32 3.4 Copyright .................................................................................................................... 34 3.4.1 The Netherlands ................................................................................................... 34 3.4.2 The European Union ............................................................................................ 36 3.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 38 Chapter Four ...................................................................................................................... 40 The Application: Copyright Meets Brain Data .................................................................... 40 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 40 4.2 Brainwaves .................................................................................................................. 40 4.3 Raw brain data and copyright ..................................................................................... 41 4.3.1 Memory and Imagination ..................................................................................... 41 4.3.2 Visual perception.................................................................................................. 45 4.4 Inferences on raw brain data and copyright ................................................................ 46 4.4.1 Memory and Imagination ..................................................................................... 46 4.4.2 Visual perception.................................................................................................. 50 4.5 Problems encountered ................................................................................................. 52 4.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 53 Chapter Five ........................................................................................................................ 55 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 55 5.1 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 55 5.2 Critics and Limitations ................................................................................................ 57 5.3 Recommendation ........................................................................................................ 58 3 Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 59 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 60 Books and Articles ............................................................................................................ 60 Tables of Legislation ......................................................................................................... 65 Table of legislation – The European Union ...................................................................... 65 Table of legislation – The Netherlands ............................................................................. 65 Tables of Cases ................................................................................................................. 66 Table of Cases – Court of Justice of the European Union ............................................... 66 Table of Cases – Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) ...................................................... 66 Table of Cases – Lower Dutch Courts .............................................................................. 66 Opinion of the Advocate General CJEU ........................................................................... 67 Websites ............................................................................................................................ 67 Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................... 67 4 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms BCI Brain-Computer Interface CJEU Court of Justice of the European Union DCA Dutch Copyright Act EEG Electroencephalograph EU The European Union fMRI Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging GDPR General Data Protection Regulation Ibid. ibidem US The United States WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization 5 Chapter One Introducing the EEG, its brain data and copyright 1.1 Introduction “May the Force be with you”. A phrase known by both Star Wars fans and individuals who have never seen the movies. The Force, an important element of the Star Wars movies, enhances natural, physical and mental abilities and can equip the movie-character with the ability of telekinesis. Telekinesis is a neural ability that most Force-sensitives have to manipulate physical matter and touch, hold or otherwise move a target. One can imagine what it means, using the Force to will objects into the direction the person bearing the Force seeks. The ability to move objects without touching them, may seem like fantasy,