Golden Gate University School of Law GGU Law Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship 4-4-2008 Reforming Copyright Law in the Digital Age: a Comparative Study of the Legal Resolutions on P2P Transmission Between Taiwan and the United States I-Hsien Chiu Golden Gate University School of Law Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/theses Part of the Intellectual Property Law Commons, and the Internet Law Commons Recommended Citation Chiu, I-Hsien, "Reforming Copyright Law in the Digital Age: a Comparative Study of the Legal Resolutions on P2P Transmission Between Taiwan and the United States" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. Paper 20. This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at GGU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of GGU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW REFORMING COPYRIGHT LAW IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE LEGAL RESOLUTIONS ON P2P TRANSMISSION BETWEEN TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES By I-Hsien Chiu SUBMITTED TO THE GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STUDIES, IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQURIEMENT FOR CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE OF SCIENTIAE JURIDICAE DOCTOR (SJ.D.) DISSERTATION COMMITTEE Professor Dr. Christian N. Okeke, Ph.D. (Amesterdam) DO Nor REMOVE FROM LAW LlI:U~)~RY Professor Dr. Sompong Sucharitkul, D.C.L. (Oxon) NOV 0 9 2009 Professor Dr. Sophie Clavier, Docteur en Droit (Paris) GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA April 4, 2008 Reforming Copyright Law in the Digital Age: A Comparative Study of the Legal Resolutions on P2P Transmission Between Taiwan and the United States TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................ 1 1.1 Overview .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background of Digital Technologies ..... " ......................................... 7 1.2.1 Digital Format ................................................................... 7 1.2.2 The Advantages of Utilizing Digital Formats ............................ 10 1.2.3 Internet Networks .............................................................. 13 1.2.3.1 The Origin oflnternet Networks ......................................... 14 1.2.3.2 Development of the Network .............. " .......... " ................ 16 1.2.3.3 The Advantages of the Utilizing Internet Technologies .......... 19 1.3 Legal Issues of the Study ....................... " .................................... 20 1.3.1 The Tension between Copyright and Technology ....................... 22 1.3.2 The Viewpoint of Comparative Law ...................................... 24 1.3.3 The Viewpoint from International Copyright Law ........ " ............26 1.4 The Motive and Purpose of the Study ............................................. 29 1.5 The Scope and Methodologies Employed in the Study ........................ 32 1.6 The Structure of the Study .......................................................... .35 Chapter 2: Copyright Law in Philosophical and Historical Perspectives ..................................................................... 38 2.1 Intellectual Property Law ......................................................... 38 2.1.1 Concept ofProperty .......................................................... .38 2.1.2 Concept of Intellectual Property ........................................... .40 2.1.3 Features of Intellectual Property ..... " .. , ....... " .......... " ........... .41 2.1.4 Intellectual Property Legal System ....................................... .45 2.2 Philosophies behind Intellectual Property Rights ............................... .49 2.2.1 Theory of Natural Rights ..... '" ., .......................................... 50 2.2.2 Theory of Personality .................................................................. 54 2.2.3 Theory of UtilitarianI Economic Incentive .............................. 59 2.2.4 The Theories Implemented in Copyright Legislation .................. 62 2.2.4.1 European Position ......................... · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. ······· .. · ... 62 2.2.4.2 U.S. Position ............ , .................................................. 64 2.2.4.3 Taiwanese Position .......................................................66 2.3. Copyright Law in Historical Perspective ................................ , .... 69 2.3.1 Introduction .................................. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. ······· .. · .... 69 2.3.2 Evolution of Printing Press in England .................................. ·70 2.3.2 Censorship ........................................ · .. ···· .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · ... 72 2.3.3 The Birth of Modern Copyright Act: The Statute of Anne ........... 76 2.3.4 Contributions of the Statute of Anne ......................................79 2.3.5 Conclusion ........................................ ···· .. ···· .. · .. · .. · .. · .. ···· ... 82 2.4 Natural of Copyright ................................ ······························ .83 2.4.1 Introduction .................................. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. ······· .. · .. · .. · .... 83 2.4.2 Controversies in Anglo-American Jurisdiction ..................... ·· .. 84 Chapter 3: U. S. Copyright Law and Technological Changes ........ 91 3.1 Evolution of Copyright of the United States ..................................91 3.1.1 Introduction .................................. · .. · .. · .. ···· .. · .. · .. ······· .. · .... 91 3.1.2 American Copyright in Colonial Period ..................................91 3.1.3 The First Copyright Act of the United States ............................92 3.1.4 Significant Changes of U.S. Copyright Law ..................... ······ ... 94 3.1.4.1 Major Revisions between 1909-1976 ................................. 94 3.1.4.2 Major Revisions after 1976 ............................................. 96 3.2 Protection of Copyright in U.S. Position ............ " ................ " .... " .99 3.2.1 Introduction ..................................... ·········· .. ······· .. · .. · ....... 99 3.2.2 Purpose of the U.S. Copyright Law ....................................... 100 3.2.3 Prerequisites of Copyright Protection .................................... 102 3.2.3.1 IdealExpression Dichotomy ..................... ···················· .. 102 3.2.3.2 OriginaHty ................................................................ 107 3.2.3.3 Fixation ........................................ · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. ···· .. · ... 110 3.2.3.4 Formalities .................................... ·.··········.············· .. 112 3.2.4 Increase of Works Protected ...... , ....................................... " 115 3.2.4.1 Introduction ................................... ························ .... 115 3.2.4.2 Photography ...................................................... , ....... 117 3.2.4.3 Motion Picture .................................. · .. · .. · .. · .. · .. ······· ... 120 3.2.4.4 Sound Recording .............................. ······················· ... 123 ii 3.2.4.5 Computer Program ..................................................... 125 3.3 Challenges of Peer-to-Peer Transmission .................................... 128 3.3.1 Introduction .................................................................. 128 3.3.2 Client-Server and Decentralized Models ............................... 129 3.3.3 Classifications of Peer-to-Peer Systems ................................. 132 3.3.4 BitTorrent ....................................................................... 136 3.4 Legal Controversies of Peer-to-Peer Transmission ........................ 138 3.4.1 Introduction ................................................................... 138 3.4.2 Liability of Manufacturer .................................................. 140 3.4.2.1 Betamax Doctrine ....................................................... 140 3.4.2.2 Manufacturer of MP3 Player ...................................... ... 144 3.4.3 Direct Infringement of User ................................................ 147 3.4.4 Indirect Infringement of Website Operator .......................... .. 150 3.4.4.1 Overview .. " .......... " .... " ................ " . " ........... , .. , ........ 150 3.4.4.2 Contributory Lia bility ..................... , ........................... 151 3.4.4.3 Vicarious Liability ...................................................... 153 3.4.4.4 Inducement Liability ................................................... 155 3.4.5 Fair Use Privileges ............................................................................... 159 3.5 Resolutions of Legislative Perspective ........................................ 162 3.5.1 Introduction ................................................................... 162 3.5.2 Digital Copyright Acts .. " . " ...................... " ............. " .... " .. 162 3.5.3 The No Electronic Theft Act (NET) of1997 ............................ 165 3.5.4 The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 .... .................... 167 3.5.5 The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005 ........... ... 170 Chapter 4: International Copyright Law and New Technologies .. 173 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................... 173 4.2 The Berne Convention ...........................................................