International regulation of the Internet. Responsibility systems and authors rights

The Internet is a form of media among many others, and it is therefore subject to media regulating laws even if it the are difficult to apply and in need of adaptations. The biggest obstacle is presented by the international aspect of the Internet, while media law remains essentially national. Focusing more on author’s rights than on responsibility systems, a number of international conventions and European directives have contributed to a harmonization of national laws, in the direction of creating international media laws. Other forms of regulation can be imagined following in this line.

 Summary AFRI-2001