數位時代網路服務提供者合理使用之研究-以搜尋引擎為中心

Abstract

印刷術的出現促成著作權的立法，因為印刷術徹底改變著作的重製方式，這種改變也使得著作權人、出版商以及消費者之間權利產生重大變革。工業革命之後人類的生活方式徹底改變，相關的社會制度與法律規範不是全面性的修改，便是重新立法。數位科技以及網際網路的出現再一次徹底改變著作的重製技術、散佈方式，以及人類的生活方式。而網際網路更是人類有史以來，連結全球資訊的偉大發明。

著作權法在面對數位化及網際網路環境時，產生諸多重大的爭議，從著作權發展的歷史來看，這些爭議的發生應該被視為理所當然。因為著作權法本身具有相當高的工具性質，扮演著人類智識文化提昇的重要角色，有關著作權法的任何爭議都不應該脫離這個本質。著作權法中有關著作權人權利的規定，從另一種角度來看也有限制的作用，合理使用制度是平衡著作權人利益與公共利益最重要的機制，當然，平衡的目的在於達成著作權法的一貫目的。有學者說，著作權法是一套最麻煩的法律，而合理使用則是這麻煩中的核心，其實合理使用的麻煩在於它必須保持彈性，隨著科技發展，不停的與時俱進。在面對網際網路環境時，賦予合理使用新的視野與意涵，將是著作權法的核心議題。

在網路環境當中，個體與總體的界線日趨模糊，對於個人合理使用的限制，也意謂著對公共利益的減損。媒介科技的提供者以及網路服務提供者，扮演著資訊流通的重要地位，這些提供者可以是個人也可能是企業，可能是以營利為目的也可能是純中性的角色，但是由於網路環境的特性，使得一個媒介科技或網路服務提供者的個別侵害行為，都將引發著作權人重大的利益損失，任何對媒介科技或網路服務提供者的約束與限制，也都牽動著對公共利益的打擊。所以，當合理使用機制應用在網路服務提供者時，更增加其複雜與困難度。因此，本論文試著從哲學、言論自由、公共利益、經濟分析、競爭平台、資訊自由等角度，就著作權人的利益、合理使用以及網路服務提供者的特性等進行研究，以期闡釋合理使用判斷時應有的新思維，並希望藉此喚起社會大眾的共識與積極參與。唯有如此，新的價值才能衍生，使著作權在網路環境當中有日趨一致解讀和取捨正義的方法。

The appearance of printing technology has contributed to the legislation of copyright laws because printing technology has completely changed the method of duplicating publications. Such a shift has also created a shift of rights among authors, publishers and consumers. Lifestyles have changed completely following the industrial revolution; not only have the relevant social systems and legal stipulations been extensively modified, but also entirely new laws have been legislated. The appearance of digital technology and the Internet are once again changing the way publication are made and distributed, and is having a profound effect of people’s lifestyles. The Internet is civilizations greatest achievement in linking up the world’s information.

Copyright law has faced several significant disputations from the digital Internet environment. According to the evolution history of the copyright law, the occurrence of such disruptions should be regarded as a matter of course. Copyright law itself exhibits tool-like properties to such a high extent that it has played a very important role in promoting intelligence, knowledge and culture. Thus, all relevant disruptions about copyright law will not break from its essence. Seen from a different point of view, the stipulations related to the rights of a copyright owner as defined in the copyright law are restricting functions. The fair use system is the most important mechanism in balancing the rights of the copyright owner and the greater public interest. Certainly, the purpose of balance lies in reaching a consistent goal with copyright law. Some scholars state that copyright law is the most troublesome of laws, and fair use is the core of this trouble. In fact, the problem that arises from fair use is that it must keep up with the times; it must grow along with the development of science and technology. The key issue of copyright law in an Internet environment is to give a new vision and meaning to fair use.

On the Internet, the boundary between the individual and the public is becoming fuzzier. Hence, a restriction of the fair use of an individual could imply the impairment of public interests too. Media technology providers and the Internet service providers play important roles in the communication of information. These providers could be individuals or enterprises; they could be targeted on commercial benefits or be purely neutral. However, due to the nature of the Internet environment, a specific infringement by a media technology provider or an Internet service provider could cause a great loss of benefit to the copyright owner. Meanwhile, any restriction and limitation to the media technology provider or the Internet service provider would affect the public interests too. Hence, in this thesis, a study on the benefit to the copyright owner, fair use, and the characteristics of the Internet service provider is carried out through the viewpoints of philosophy, freedom of speech, public interest, economic analysis, competition platform, and information freedom, in the hopes of explaining the new thinking about fair use and increasing the common understanding and active participation of the public. By doing so, new values could be derived to allow copyright law to be interpreted and used judiciously and with greater consensus.