Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch Univeristy, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Music has, and continues to play, an important role in society. It is therefore natural that more music composers enter the scene to capitalize upon this role that music has in society. It is however becoming more common place for music composers to start copying each other, either directly or indirectly. Fortunately, copyright laws have been developed to further protect the rights enjoyed by copyright holders, such as music composers, and these laws essentially protect the composers from the unlawful reproduction of their original music. Copying is, to some degree, inevitable, therefore, the question asked by this paper is to what extent is someone entitled to ‘copy’ from another person without it amounting to copyright infringement. In determining if there is copyright infringement, two tests must be applied and satisfied, namely, the causal connection test, and the substantial similarity test. Causal connection is usually met by establishing whether the alleged infringer had access to the original work. The substantial similarity test is the focus of this paper. The courts rely on this test to determine if that part which was reproduced from the original work is of substance i.e. if it is a part of the work which attributes uniqueness and quality to the original song. Of course, this test is notoriously difficult to understand and apply, hence the need for this paper to address the question on when there is substantial similarity in two works. This paper is of benefit to academics, authors (musicians) and lawyers, as not only is the substantial similarity test discussed from a theoretical point of view, but the question of when something is substantially similar is answered from a pragmatic point of view. It is hoped that this paper is used as a guideline in understanding and applying the substantial similarity test in music copyright infringement cases. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar

With the arrival of the digital age, faster internet speeds, and greater storage capacities in our computers, digital piracy is on the rise. Neither the illegality of piracy nor the unethical nature of doing so has stopped people from partaking in the act. Studies show that tens of billions of dollars of pirated goods are downloaded every year, yet our policies fail to solve the issue of digital copyright infringement. The biggest issues contributing to the problem are the lack of a policy that consumers take seriously in combination with some digital goods being too expensive in their current state of distribution. This thesis is aimed at taking a direct approach to reduce digital piracy from two different angles. The first angle deals with the incentive structure of society and the need for a government backed policy that has legitimacy in the view of United States citizens and the second angle is the creation of an alternative distribution model for digital software as a service based platform.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 1973. / Includes bibliographical references (p. x-xlv).

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-119).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Leaf v is blank. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-149). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-119) Also available in print.

The thesis titled "The Internet and copyright - the scope of liability of individual parties involved and modes of protection against piracy" deals with both, the protection of copyright and the scope of liability of various actors in the Internet environment. The content of the thesis is divided into four chapters, which allows the reader to be gradually acquainted with the whole issue. The first part briefly mentions development of the Internet network and its incorporation into the Czech legal order. The second chapter is devoted to the copyright protection in the Internet environment. Its content focuses on the most common methods of use of the author's work via the Internet, which is a reproduction of the work and its publication. This chapter further describes the development and operation of data sharing through peer-to-peer systems. Furthermore, it also deals with the issue of downloading of the work and application of the statutory exemption from liability for personal use only. The scope of liability in the Internet environment is largely harmonized by European provisions. For this reason, the third chapter contains the development phase of liability of the Internet services providers in the European countries. The first part of the third chapter demonstrates different approaches to the...

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-126). / This thesis examines video games, copyright law and gamers' attitudes to copyright infringement, with particular reference to South Africa. The work provides an overview of the debates about copyright law and digital media, and offers an analysis of attitudes expressed by South African gamers about copyright infringement, popularly termed 'piracy'. The thesis reveals that, while about 70% of the gamers in this study share content illegally, they express complex and varying motivations for doing so, and have various and conflicting means of understanding the supposed illegality of the act. Some of the issues raised by participants in this study relate to contested perspectives on Digital Rights Management (DRM). In this work, I argue that DRM erodes civil liberties and does not necessarily extend the interests of gaming corporations. In this regard, the thesis explores alternative strategies to the restrictive approaches adopted by advocates of DRM as well as prohibitive copyright laws and multilateral agreements on intellectual property. In essence, this work intends to establish middle ground between gamers, who place a high premium on usability and affordability of gaming products, and the gaming corporations, who are interested in extending market share as well as protecting what they deem to be their intellectual property.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78).

The growth of fast fashion retailers, availability of knockoff fashion apparel, and proposed apparel copyright law prompted this study. Fast fashion retailers are expanding rapidly and producing knockoffs fashion apparel in a matter of weeks, but current U.S. copyright laws do not protect apparel. The primary purpose of this study was to identify prominent visual fashion apparel attributes that could determine perceived copyright infringement. A secondary purpose was to examine the effects of fashion apparel attributes on perceived copyright infringement, perceived risk, and purchase intention. A sequential exploratory mixed method approach was used to explore the relationship between: Attributes, perceived copyright infringement, perceived risk, and purchase intention. This study consisted of a: Study one, study two, and study three. Twelve hypotheses were proposed, and five were supported. Quality significantly affected both perceived copyright infringement and purchase intention. Performance, social, and asset significantly affected purchase intention of knockoff fashion apparel.