European Copyright Law: A Commentary

The second edition of European Copyright Law is particularly relevant in that it offers an extensive review of the acquis communautaire, especially now that the debate on a uniform copyright title for Europe has been launched by academics as well as decision makers. This impressive book also takes into account the most recent developments at the national level and the changes resulting from the new Treaty of Lisbon. This book will serve as a valuable tool for anyone dealing with European copyright law issues. Alain Strowel, Of Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP In summary, the work is a magnificent reference text and a worthy addition to any copyright library and it will probably become a central text in the copyright field Phillip Johnson, Barrister, European Intellectual Property Review The current edition reflects - as did the first edition, published in 2001 - the increasing harmonization of copyright in the European Community and is logically presented in the form of an article by article commentary by a team of highly regarded experts in this important area of law. The result is a thorough, in-depth examination of copyright-related directives and regulations. A survey of legislative materials, legal instruments and bibliography precedes each directive or regulation cited and it is a heavy-weight book in every sense of the word!..The book contains a wealth of diverse material, from Fundamental rights, European Competition Law and Free Movement of Goods and Sevices to the various directives pertaining to, for example, computerization, satellite and cable technologies, rental and lending rights and of course enforcement Phillip Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers Product Description This book is an updated English language version of a highly regarded commentary published in German by Springer in 2001, covering all of the EU Directives on copyright law and related rights, with article-by-article analysis of the provisions, as well as the relevant background of general EC law. The analysis of each article examines its antecedents in national laws, the negotiating history, the meaning and purpose of the wording, interpretive rulings by the European Court of Justice, and key issues relating to implentation of the regulations and rulings by the Member States, concentrating in particular on the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Hungary. The revised English edition takes into account the many significant developments which have taken place since the German edition was published, including the Software Directive, the Database Directive, the revised text of the Product Piracy Regulation, the Enforcement Directive and the review of the EC legal framework in the field of Copyright and Related Rights. This book is a must have text for practitioners and academics working in the areas of intellectual property law and policy-making as it offers for the first time in the English language, a clear and comprehensive analysis of European Copyright Law in the style of a commentary. Relevant Europe-wide, this book also has a global market given the importance of the EU in intellectual property circles around the world.