Software-as-a-service – Legal nature: Shifting the existing paradigm of copyright law

Today's business environment is no longer defined exclusively by bricks and mortar. Business models of software distribution are constantly evolving as new technologies develop. Traditional retail versions of software products are mostly replaced with digital distribution of copies of software products. However, these ways of software distribution are by no means exhaustive. Functionality of software is not necessarily tied with provision of the copy of the relevant program to the user. Instead he can receive access to it via the Internet without the need to install software onto his computer. This type of business model received the name “Software-as-a-Service” (SaaS) or, sometimes “Cloud Computing”. The legal nature of relations arising between the user and provider of distant access to such software is subject to considerable debate in Russia. The main problem is that at first glance it resembles the features of various types of contracts, recognized in the Civil Code of Russia, although not falling completely within any of them. At the same time the type of agreement chosen by the parties defines the legal framework, which governs relevant relations and relevant tax consequences. This article aims to analyze the nature of existing relations between the user and SaaS-provider and to define whether it can be characterized as a license, service, lease or some kind of sui generis contract. Based on the analysis the author comes to a conclusion that as delivery of copies of software becomes less and less relevant for the software industry, due to the new business models implemented by vendors, the rights to use the particular copy of software around which the traditional copyright regime has been built, become more and more superseded with the right to access such software. Thus traditional contractual models developed for IP distribution (license agreements, assignment agreements) and, more generally, the legal framework of existing copyright law that is centered on the core idea of the “use” of the copy, are no longer adequate regulators in the digital era where remote access to objects of copyright will soon start to dominate.     

Decipher the Overseas Success of “Decoded”

正EARLY in 2014,the Chinese spy thriller,which the New York Times Book Review declared"truly is a page turner,"captured the international book market.Published in 21 countries,including Britain and the U.S.,Decoded,the English translation of Mai Jia’s Jie Mi,broke international records for Chinese authored works,and made 17th ranking in the Amazon list of U.S.fiction best-sellers.The shot of Mai Jia,chin cupped in hand beaming a piercing bespectacled gaze,is now a staple item in     

台湾作者在大陆行使著作权的新思考——由叶佳修状告东莞KTV经营者系列案件谈起

随着两岸经济文化交流的深入,两岸之间的著作权纠纷也日渐增多。台湾著名的词曲作者叶佳修在东莞对多家KTV经营者提起著作权侵权诉讼,在这一系列案件中,台湾作者在大陆著作权的行使依据、行使范围以及其与中国著作权集体管理组织之间的权力行使划分都成为案件争议的焦点。本文以该系列案件为引,展开对台湾作者在大陆行使著作权的新思考,从而明确台湾作者在大陆行使著作权的依据、范围和权限限制。     

“一事不二罚”在行刑交叉案件中的适用——从一例危险驾驶案切入

在处理行刑交叉案件时,厘清"一事"、"二罚"的关系,适度延伸"一事不二罚原则"的适用范围对于划清权力界限、保护公民权利、节约执法、司法成本均有重大意义。行刑交叉案件中的"一事不二罚原则"应该贯彻行政处罚与刑事处罚在罚责内容上的"有限并科"、"同质罚责刑事优先,相异罚责各自适用"以及"及时移送"三大核心内容。     

Are Internet protocol addresses personal data? The fight against online copyright infringement

Internet Protocol addresses [IP addresses] are central for Internet electronic communications. They individualize computers and their users to make the delivery of data packets possible. IP addresses are also often used to identify websurfers for litigation purposes. In particular, they constitute a key in the fight against online copyright infringement to identify infringers. However, it is a matter of dispute to know if IP addresses are personal data. In a review of relevant case law, the present paper seeks to identify when IP addresses are - or should be - considered as personal data. It suggests a contextual approach to the concept of personal data.     

商标转让的理论建构与制度设计

作为商标这一符号的所指,商誉乃是其不可分割的组成部分。传统商标转让规则,无论要求商标连同商誉转让抑或允许其单独转让,其表述本身就背离了符号学基本原理,在适用过程中最终都转换为,要求商标连同营业转让或允许其自由转让。不进行这样的转换,上述规则根本就无从适用,更遑论合理与否。历史地看,商标转让制度经历了从连同转让向自由转让的模式转变。在当代,包括我国在内的各主要国家和地区实际适用的都是自由转让模式,这也正是巴黎公约和TRIPs协定所持基本立场。在我国,出于保护消费者利益的考虑,立法者还为商标受让人设定了品质保证义务。表面看来,上述规定系商标品质保证功能的具体体现,实则违背商标制度的运行机理,理当删除。     

论刑侦发展与刑侦支撑体系建设

刑侦工作作为抗衡、揭露、制裁刑事犯罪的国家"利器",面临在现有打击能力下发展创新的重大课题。研究刑侦发展离不开研究刑侦支撑体系建设,刑侦工作实际上是由主体支撑、信息支撑、保障支撑三者互为作用的有机体系,在核心构成、动力机制、基础保障三个方面支撑刑侦的发展,必须注重刑侦支撑体系的内在突破和整体推进,实现刑侦工作全面、协调、可持续发展,满足人民群众日益增长的安全需求,突破自身的发展局限和障碍。     

逮捕必要性条件的实证考量

逮捕必要性条件在司法实践中未得到充分适用,导致逮捕率居高不下。未明确逮捕权的司法权属性和不捕后的配套保障措施不足,导致逮捕必要性条件适用率低。确立逮捕权的司法权属性,可以促进对逮捕必要性条件审查方式的改革;对监视居住和取保候审制度进行适当的改革并合理的增加其他保障措施,可完善不捕后的配套机制。     

从信息法角度评《欧洲版权准则》

《欧洲版权准则》是由欧洲数名顶尖版权专家耗费8年时间于2010年完成的。制订这个准则的目的是增强欧洲版权法的透明度和一致性。起草者希望这部准则作为欧洲各国版权立法的参考和示范,能够协调和统一欧洲未来版权立法的标准。但是,这个准则在学术界并没有得到应有的重视。当前从信息法角度,结合信息技术的发展及我国版权立法和司法实践,对这部法律文件的特点、优点和不足进行分析,着重对网络环境下版权制度的变革和发展,做出评价和展望十分必要。