Internet and Copyright

Abstract

The Internet is growing fast world-wide because of its advantages in communications, in information access and in publishing. It is evolving into a medium which integrates all the other technologies of com¬munication, publishing and distribution. The Internet also brings with it, the problem of copyright protection. The features of the lnternet, such as the ease of replication and distribution, the equivalence of works, new types of works such as the computer games and virtual reality app¬lications, non-linearity. Plasticity and interactivity make the internet prob¬lematic in terms copyright law. Some intellectuals even claimed that the copyright regimes of the era of printing press have become unworkable in the age of the Internet. The majority, however, believes that with app¬ropriate changes, the existing copyright regimes apply to the Intemet as wel1. Indeed, the parts of the world where the Intemet is used widely, such as the USA and EU have made changes or about ta make changes to their copyright laws regarding the lntemet following extensive discussions with all the parties concemed.

The issue of protecting copyright in the age of the Intemet has not re¬ceived enough attention in Turkey in spite of its close relationship with fos¬tering creativity in science, arts and culture. This paper aims ta facilitate discussions on this subject by making proposals tor changes in the copy¬right law and other related areas.