Akester (2009)
Contents
Source Details
Akester (2009) | |
Title: | Technological accommodation of conflicts between freedom of expression and DRM: the first empirical assessment |
Author(s): | Akester, P. |
Year: | 2009 |
Citation: | Akester, P. (2009). Technological accommodation of conflicts between freedom of expression and DRM: the first empirical assessment. Available at SSRN 1469412. |
Link(s): | Definitive , Open Access |
Key Related Studies: | |
Discipline: | |
Linked by: |
About the Data | |
Data Description: | Nine different questionnaires were created for different players: (1) libraries, (2) the visually impaired and partially sighted, (3) private users, (4) lecturers, (5) students/researchers, (6) DRM developers, (7) content owners, (8) the European Commission and (9) the UK Intellectual Property Office. Primarily the questions were forced choice, followed by comments, and some open answer. Interviews were also conducted with industry leaders.
Twenty six interviews with industry stakeholders. Twenty four questionnaires from film makers. One hundred and seventy four questionnaires from content consumers. |
Data Type: | Primary and Secondary data |
Secondary Data Sources: | |
Data Collection Methods: | |
Data Analysis Methods: | |
Industry(ies): | |
Country(ies): | |
Cross Country Study?: | Yes |
Comparative Study?: | No |
Literature review?: | No |
Government or policy study?: | No |
Time Period(s) of Collection: |
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Funder(s): |
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Abstract
"Copyright incentives and rewards to producers of works have been able to exist alongside other values, such as freedom of expression. However, changes in the way information products are being disseminated raises questions as to whether those values remain compatible with the new modes of dissemination. So far, studies devoted to digital rights management (DRM) and copyright exceptions have noted, theoretically, its legal implications. This research filled an existing gap by unveiling, through empirical lines of enquiry, (1) whether certain acts which are permitted by law are being adversely affected by the use of DRM and (2) whether technology can accommodate conflicts between freedom of expression and DRM - linking, thus, policy conclusions to empirical findings. The survey concluded that some beneficiaries of privileged exceptions are being adversely affected by the use of DRM and practical solutions are required. Thus, it is proposed that, in the short term, with the help of the empirical findings and recommendations of this study, the EC Commission submits a proposal for two amendment of Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive, as follows: (1) A definition of the expression ‘appropriate measures’ should be inserted in Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive, stating that for the purposes of that Directive such measures require the establishment of a procedure to enable expeditious access to works by beneficiaries of privileged exceptions, leading to the creation of standardized access to works portals across EC Member States. The existence of access to works portals would be made possible by a DRM deposit system, according to which the means to enable beneficiaries of privileged exceptions to benefit from them would be deposited and made available through access to works portals, in specified circumstances. (2) It should be added to Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive that where access to works by beneficiaries of privileged exceptions is not facilitated, the protection of privileged exceptions (given their connection to core freedoms) prevails over the protection of DRM, even where works are supplied online on agreed contractual terms."
Main Results of the Study
- "1) Although DRM has not impacted on many acts permitted by law, certain permitted acts are being adversely affected by the use of DRM;
- 2) This is in spite of the existence of technological solutions (enabling partitioning and authentication of users) to accommodate those permitted acts (privileged exceptions);
- 3) Beneficiaries of privileged exceptions who have been prevented from carrying out those permitted acts (because of the employment of DRM) have not used the complaints mechanism set out in UK law;
- 4) Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive put an onus on content owners to accommodate privileged exceptions voluntarily. Voluntary measures have emerged in the publishing field, but not all content owners are ready to act unless they are told to do so by regulatory authorities."
Policy Implications as Stated By Author
The author proposes the following amendments of Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive:
- 1 - "A definition of the expression ‘appropriate measures’ should be inserted in Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive, stating that for the purposes of that Directive such measures require the establishment of a procedure to enable expeditious access to works by beneficiaries of privileged exceptions, leading to the creation of standardized access to works portals across EC Member States."
- 2 - "It should be added to Article 6(4) of the Information Society Directive that where access to works by beneficiaries of privileged exceptions is not facilitated, the protection of privileged exceptions (given their connection to core freedoms) prevails over the protection of DRM, even where works are supplied online on agreed contractual terms."
Coverage of Study
Datasets
Sample size: | 174 |
Level of aggregation: | Questionnaires |
Period of material under study: | 2007 |
Sample size: | 24 |
Level of aggregation: | Questionnaires |
Period of material under study: | 2007 |
Sample size: | 26 |
Level of aggregation: | Interviews |
Period of material under study: | 2007 |