인터넷으로 연결된 세상은 자유롭고 공개된 공간이라는 점이 가장 큰 장점이며 이를 부정하거나 그러한 자유로움과 공개성을 저해하는 행위는 지양되어야 할 것이다. 그럼에도 불구하고 특정한 행위로 인해 명백하게 권리침해가 발생하고 있고 그러한 권리침해로 인해 막대한 피해가 발생하고 있다면 피해를 방지하기 위한 대응이 필요할 것이며, 그러한 대응이 인터넷으로 연결된 세상의 긍정적인 측면을 보호하는 역할을 할 수 있을 것이다.
링크행위는 정보 등이 필요한 사람들에게 그들이 필요로 하는 정보 등으로 연결시켜 주는 매우 긍정적인 역할을 함에도 불구하고, 그 연결이 불법적인 정보를 향하고 있는 경우에는 권리침해와 피해발생이라는 부정적인 결과물을 발생시킨다.
우리 법원의 태도나 관련 법률규정에 따르면 링크를 통한 불법복제물의 확산으로 발생하는 저작권자의 피해를 막는 것은 쉽지 않은 것으로 보이며, 이처럼 저작권자의 권리보호에 매우 어려운 현실을 개선하기 위한 입법적 노력이 필요할 것이다.
일본은 링크로 인한 피해에 대해 적극적인 대응을 위한 입법적 노력을 시작하였으며, 개정 법률은 링크사이트와 저작물 전반에 걸친 위법 다운로드 행위를 규제 대상으로 하고 있다.
우리도 일본의 개정 법률을 참고로 하여 링크행위로 발생하는 권리침해에 대응하는 것이 필요할 것이며, 이를 위해 저작권법 제124조를 개정하여 불법복제물에 대한 링크를 제공하는 행위를 저작권을 침해하는 행위로 하고 그에 대한 처벌규정을 마련하는 방안을 고려할 수 있을 것이다. 그러나 일본의 경우와 같이 위법하게 업로드된 저작물의 다운로드를 규제의 대상으로 하는 것에 대해서는 추가적인 논의가 필요할 것으로 생각된다. 또한 플랫폼서비스제공자의 경우에도 기본적으로 규제가 적용되지 않는 것으로 해야 할 것이다. 물론 이러한 법적 규제와 함께 저작권보호를 위한 적극적인 교육과 홍보가 반드시 수반되어야 할 것이다.
The biggest advantage of the Internet-connected world is that it is a free and open space, and it should be avoided from such acts that hinder freedom and openness. However, where certain actions clearly result in infringement of rights and serious damage is caused by such infringement, measures are needed to prevent the damage, and such actions will play a role in protecting the positive aspects of the world connected to the Internet. For those who need information, the act of linking the information to the information they need. However, if such information leads to illegal information, such information will result in negative consequences as infringement and damage. According to the attitude of the Korean court and related legal provisions, it is not easy to prevent copyright holders from being harmed by the spread of illegal copies through links. Thus, legislative efforts are needed to improve the reality that it is extremely difficult to protect the rights of copyright holders. Japan has begun to respond positively to the damage caused by links, and the revised law restricts illegal downloading across link sites and copyrighted works. We need to respond to the infringement of rights caused by the act of linking, referring to the revised law of Japan. Therefore, we will consider revising Article 124 of the Copyright Law to constitute the act of providing links to illegal reproductions as an act of infringement of copyright and establishing a punishment for such act. However, further discussion is necessary on the subject of the restriction on the download of illegally uploaded works. In addition, in the case of platform service providers, regulations should basically not be applied. Of course, such legal regulations should be accompanied by active education and publicity for copyright protection.
The biggest advantage of the Internet-connected world is that it is a free and open space, and it should be avoided from such acts that hinder freedom and openness. However, where certain actions clearly result in infringement of rights and serious damage is caused by such infringement, measures are needed to prevent the damage, and such actions will play a role in protecting the positive aspects of the world connected to the Internet. For those who need information, the act of linking the information to the information they need. However, if such information leads to illegal information, such information will result in negative consequences as infringement and damage. According to the attitude of the Korean court and related legal provisions, it is not easy to prevent copyright holders from being harmed by the spread of illegal copies through links. Thus, legislative efforts are needed to improve the reality that it is extremely difficult to protect the rights of copyright holders. Japan has begun to respond positively to the damage caused by links, and the revised law restricts illegal downloading across link sites and copyrighted works. We need to respond to the infringement of rights caused by the act of linking, referring to the revised law of Japan. Therefore, we will consider revising Article 124 of the Copyright Law to constitute the act of providing links to illegal reproductions as an act of infringement of copyright and establishing a punishment for such act. However, further discussion is necessary on the subject of the restriction on the download of illegally uploaded works. In addition, in the case of platform service providers, regulations should basically not be applied. Of course, such legal regulations should be accompanied by active education and publicity for copyright protection.
