Acceso usuarios
Gabriella Mazzei
In the Euro-Continental system of authors' rights and in the Anglo-American system of copyright, the evolution of intellectual property law has continuously sought to strike new balance between the various interests involved in the legal protection of original works of authorship. Recent legislation has transformed the traditional legal framework and has lead to a tighter protection of the interests of property rights owners and to a weaker defence of the right of the public to access information conveyed by protected works. There is now a more widespread and growing awareness that the over-protection of the current intellectual property regime - in International and European laws as well as in the most advanced national legal frameworks in terms of intellectual property protection - not only does hinder cultural progress, but it also makes the pursuit of some of the most important anthropological values of our time harder. The present work, first, critically reassessing the same intellectual property which adequate institutional response to the need to promote and encourage the creation of original works of authorship. Through the perspectives of historical analysis, economic analysis of law, and the comparative law analysis we can see the main elements which cast doubts over the necessity, the economic efficiency and the effectiveness of legal protection focuses on an exclusive right that is similar to the classic paradigm owner delivered us from the Western legal tradition. Secondly, it analyzes some of the solutions submitted by scientia juris with the view of a more equal balance of interests, these solutions could be used, or have already been used, in court decisions: the application of the antitrust laws against anti-competitive practices carried out by exercising intellectual property rights, the abuse of rights and the collective management of authors� economic interests. Finally, this work thoroughly assesses the possibility of finding a new and fairer balance between all interests involved in the legal protection of original works of authorship, made possible through the inclusion of intellectual property in the framework of fundamental rights and through an interpretation to authors� rights and copyright in accordance with the main international tools used to uphold fundamental human rights.
