Copyright laws as we know them today are adapted to the needs of traditional print publishing. In theory, publishers are responsible for protecting the authors’ intellectual property and are held liable for the text’s copyright. People are not supposed to be able to copy someone’s work unless the artist is dead since at least 70 years. In practice, it is more complicated than that. In a digital world, where copy and pasting is incredibly easy and quick, how can the publisher protect someone’s property? Digital consumers are used to being able to access content almost instantly, and within easy reach. In just one click, one can access and copy books, novels, videos, articles, blog posts, music… The copying and online distribution of digital texts is known to be easy and inexpensive. There have been reactions of the law concerning this trend, but they have for the most been moderately successful. One may argue that the solution to the to the problem relies on the market rather than on the law. However, digital publishers are often unable to face challenges concerning the control of the inappropriate use of their copyrighted work. Online piracy makes it easier to share and download every type of content, including books, newspapers and journals. This issue affects small authors and independent presses as much as non-profit distribution platforms (‘citizen media”, e.g. internet blogs).
On the other hand, recent improvements in copyright laws have been introduced; giving online publishers the opportunity to technologically “lock” their e-books so only authorized persons can access, share or reproduce it. Additionally, the evolution of piracy detection software seems to be promising. The digital publishing industry, which has been around for 40 years, starts to learn from its experience and begins to draw together the basic contours of what copyright laws and practices are more accurately fitted to the needs of publishers.
On the other hand, recent improvements in copyright laws have been introduced; giving online publishers the opportunity to technologically “lock” their e-books so only authorized persons can access, share or reproduce it. Additionally, the evolution of piracy detection software seems to be promising. The digital publishing industry, which has been around for 40 years, starts to learn from its experience and begins to draw together the basic contours of what copyright laws and practices are more accurately fitted to the needs of publishers.
Greenfield, J. (2013). Does Piracy Hurt Digital Content Sales? Yes | Digital Book World. [online] Digitalbookworld.com. Available at: http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/does-piracy-hurt-digital-content-sales-yes/ [Accessed 25 Oct. 2014].
Harris, L. (2014). Copyright Issues in E-Books and Electronic Publishing | copyrightlaws.com. [online] Copyrightlaws.com. Available at: http://www.copyrightlaws.com/digital/copyright-issues-in-e-books-and-electronic-publishing/ [Accessed 25 Oct. 2014].
Lipton, J. (2014). Copyright, Plagiarism, and Emerging Norms in Digital Publishing. Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law;Spring2014, Vol. 16(Issue 3), pp.585-627.
Harris, L. (2014). Copyright Issues in E-Books and Electronic Publishing | copyrightlaws.com. [online] Copyrightlaws.com. Available at: http://www.copyrightlaws.com/digital/copyright-issues-in-e-books-and-electronic-publishing/ [Accessed 25 Oct. 2014].
Lipton, J. (2014). Copyright, Plagiarism, and Emerging Norms in Digital Publishing. Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law;Spring2014, Vol. 16(Issue 3), pp.585-627.