UK court faces copyright dispute surrounding Internet browsing

The Internet has made it easier than ever for users to share information, and this can include works that they do not have the license to upload, download or distribute. This ability has led to many copyright infringement disputes, some of which we have discussed on this blog, such as the case involving Megaupload. 

In Europe, copyright infringement on the Internet is also an issue. According to an article from Ars Technica, there had been dispute over the copyright status of cached documents on user computers. This refers to the temporary copying that takes place when browsing the Internet, and means it could be considered infringement. 

The UK supreme court had decided in a ruling that headlines could be subject to copyright, according to an article in Tech Crunch. However, it was decided recently by the European Court Justice in a preliminary ruling that the temporary cache files held in an Internet browser from surfing the Internet did not count as infringement. 

If a different ruling had been made, it could have meant that browsing the Internet would have been considered an act of infringement. Since it is necessary for web browsers to store files as part of their normal technological process, the judges erred on the side of "common sense" and did not consider the temporary files to be infringing on the copyright of the owners. 

The Internet has created a lot of copyright issues in recent years, and the landscape continues to change. Given the uncertain nature of aspects of copyright law, it's essential for small business owners to have an understanding about how these laws may affect their venture. Contact a Phoenix, AZ small business attorney to learn more about how copyright affects your business. 

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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