Unsticking the centre-piece - the liberation of European copyright law?

• Author: Jonathan Griffiths
• Position: Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Queen Mary, University of London
• Pages: 87-95

Unsticking the centre-piece – the liberation of European copyright law?

2010

87

1

Abstract: Following European legislative ini-

tiatives in the field of copyright limitations and excep-

tions, policy flexibilities formerly available to mem-

ber states has been greatly diminished. The law in

this area is increasingly incapable of accommodat-

ing any expansion in the scope of freely permitted

acts, even where such expansion may be an appro-

priate response to changes in social and technologi-

cal conditions. In this article, the causes of this prob-

lem are briefly canvassed and a number of potential

solutions are noted. It is suggested that one such so-

lution – the adoption of an open, factor-based model

similar to s 107 of the United States’ Copyright Act

– has not received the serious attention it deserves.

The fair use paradigm has generally been dismissed

as excessively unpredictable, contrary to interna-

tional law and/or culturally alien. Drawing on recent

fair use scholarship, it is argued here that these dis-

advantages are over-stated and that the potential

for the development of a European fair use model

merits investigation.

Unsticking the centre-piece – the

liberation of European copyright law?

by Jonathan Griffiths, London

Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Queen Mary, University of London

© 2010 Jonathan Griff iths

Everbody may disseminate this article by electronic means and make it available for download under the terms and

conditions of the Digit al Peer Publishing Licence (DPPL). A copy of the license tex t may be obtained at http://nbn-resolving.

de/urn:nbn:de:00 09-dppl-v3-en8 .

Recommended citation: Jonathan Griffiths, Uns ticking the centre-piece – the liberation of European copyrig ht law?, 1 (2010)

JIPITEC 87, para. 1.

Keywords: Copyright, Exceptions, Limitations, Three-Step-Test, Fair use, Wittem Group

Introduction

1 



Journal of Intellectual Property Information Technol-

ogy and e-Commerce



   

  











  









  







   













A. The problem – the

centre-piece stuck

2  

acquis commu-

nautaire. 



    



   



  