Research Explorer

Project

Exhaustion of copyright in a digital environment: An analysis of the disposition capabilities of the first purchaser of a copyright protected digital work, particularly from the consumer’s perspective.
Code
01D21215
Duration
01 October 2015 → 30 September 2019
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Social sciences
    • Law
    • Other law and legal studies
Keywords
UsedSoft Immaterial goods copyright Exhaustion Distribution right Directive 2001/29/EC consumer protection Digital content Disposition right First transfer of ownership
 
Project description

Only authors have the right to distribute works or copies. However, after the first transfer of ownership, this right to control that copy’s further distribution is “exhausted”. Regarding material copies, issues are cleared. Yet, how does exhaustion apply to digital copies? Can buyers freely dispose of purchased eBooks or MP3 files, like they can dispose of real books or CDs?