The impact of competition law on copyright law in new economy markets in Canada.

摘要

The interface between copyright law and competition law has always been a topic of debate in legal and economic circles. Since the last decade however, new economy markets pose new challenges to this interface. Network effects, interconnectivity, rapid innovation, and excludability are characteristics of new economy markets. Particularly network effects can, in connection with copyright protection, increase market power and provoke competition authorities to monitor the exercise of copyrights.; This thesis contains an analysis of the background and underlying principles of Canadian copyright law and competition law. It gives an overview over their interface in the legislation and the impact of competition policy on copyright litigation. It also examines the Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines that were issued by the Canadian Competition Bureau in September 2000.; The thesis concludes that competition law and copyright law are complementary instruments that serve the same goals. The two bodies of law are drafted so that they would not oppose one another. Instead of curbing copyright protection through competition policy enforcement, new challenges posed by new economy markets should be met by rethinking copyright policy and protection in these markets.