Copyright and trade mark infringements: the digital evolution

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Date
2002
Authors
Ebersohn, Gerhardus Johannes
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English:The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (1) the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, (2) the Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993 and (3) the South African common law provide adequate protection to copyright and trade mark proprietors against Internet infringements. Specifically, the study observed when copyright and trade mark protection is violated by Internet conduct. Furthermore, the study observed the influence of both the constitutional right to freedom of speech as well as the constitutional right to privacy on possible copyright and trade mark infringements. The study also made certain recommendations to bring the above-mentioned legislation in line with the aforementioned constitutional rights as well as the Internet. In addition, the study also observed how local courts will apply the common law principles, with specific reference to passing-off and unlawful competition, to specific Internet scenarios. The interaction between the common law and the constitutional right to freedom of speech was also studied. The study specifically observed how American courts applied and extended their own principles to the Internet in order to meet the demands of the twenty-first century. The study made generous use of the vast American jurisprudence to observe how Internet and computer users employ the Internet to infringe third parties' copyright, trade mark and common law rights. Where the relevant American principles correspond with the South African principles, the study made use of these principles to propose how the South African principles should applied to the Internet, in order to reach an answer which not only balances the parties' respective right or interests, but also advances the interests of the South African community. In addition, the study observed relevant international developments such as the European Convention on Cybercrime, the European Copyright Directive, and the WIPO Copyright Treaty. Specific note was also taken of the international Universal Dispute Resolution Procedure as well as panel judgments resolving trade mark infringements in terms thereof. It should also be mentioned that the various technology used by copyright proprietors to protect their rights from electronic infringement, such as digital watermarks, digital rights management and audio fingerprinting, was also studied.
Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stelof (1) die Wet op Outeursreg 98 van 1978, (2) die Wet op Handelsmerke 194 van 1993 so wel as (3) die Suid-Afrikaanse gemene reg voldoende beskerming verleen aan die houers van outeursreg en handelsmerke teen Internet skendings. Die studie het spesifiek vasgestel watter elektroniese handelinge outeursregte en handelsmerkregte skend. Die studie het verder die invloed van beide die grondwetlike reg op vryheid van spraak sowel as die grondwetlike reg op privaatheid op moontlike outeursreg- en handelmerk skendings vasgestel. Met betrekking tot bogenoemde wetgewing was sekere aanbevelings ook gemaak ten einde dié wetgewing in lyn te bring met bogenoemde konstitusionele regte sowel as die Internet. Die studie het ook bepaal hoe die howe die gemene reg, spesifiek ten opsigte van aanklamping en onregmatige mededinging, sal toepas op spesifieke Internet scenario's. Die interaksie tussen die gemene reg en die grondwetlike reg op vryheid van spraak was ook bestudeer.Die studie het spesifiek gelet op hoe die Amerikaanse howe hul eie beginsels toegepas en uitgebrei het ten opstigte van die Internet ten einde aan die vereistes van die een-en-twintigste eeu te voldoen. Die studie het gebruik gemaak van die Amerikaanse regsleer ten einde vas te stel hoe Internet en rekenaar gebruikers die Internet misbruik om derde partye se outeursreg, handelmerk regte en regte in terme van die gemene reg te skend. Waar die relevante Amerikaanse beginsels ooreengestem het met die toepaslike Suid-Afrikaanse beginsels, het die studie gebruik gemaak van eersgenoemde beginsels ten einde voor te stel hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse beginsels toegepas behoort te word op die Internet, ten einde 'n oplossing te bereik wat nie net die party se onderskeie regte balanseer nie, maar wat ook die belange van die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap bevorder. Verskeie internasionale verwikkelinge was ook bestudeer, soos die Europese Konvensie oor Internet Misdade ("Convention on Cybercrime"), die Europese Kopiereg Direktief ("Copyright Directive") en die WIPO Kopiereg Verdrag ("WIPO Copyright Treaty"). Die studie het spesifiek ook gelet op die internasionale Universele Dispuut Resolusie Prosedure ("Universal Dispute Resolution Procedure") en paneel beslissings wat handelsmerk skendings in terme daarvan opgelos het. Verder het die studie ook kennis geneem van tegnologie wat outeursreghouers gebruik ten einde hul regte te beskerm, soos byvoorbeeld digitale watermerke, digital regte bestuur ("digital rights managemenf'), en klank afdrukke ("audio fingerprinting").
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Keywords
Internet, Trade marks, Copyright, Unlawful competition, Passing-off, Universal dispute resolution procedure, Internet related crimes, Internet risks, Domain names, E-commerce, Copyright infringement -- South Africa, Intellectual property -- South Africa, Copyright and electronic data processing -- South Africa, Fair use (Copyright) -- South Africa, Thesis (LL.D. (Mercantile Law))--University of the Free State, 2002
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