Kējì Fǎxué Pínglùn (Dec 2004)
用戶著作權侵權之網路服務業者責任 Internet Service Provider Liability for Subscriber Copyright Infrigement
Abstract
網路服務業者的責任可說是網路上最具爭議的問題。本文的目的在於從一般性原則上討論用戶涉及著作權侵權時，網路服務業者是否可能成立民事侵權與刑事犯罪責任。個案的深入討論並不在本文範圍內。本文首先介紹美國侵權法上網路服務業者責任，內容包括法院判決、學說見解與國會立法。其次，本文將從刑法理論來分析用戶成立直接正犯之同時，網路服務業者可能構成共同正犯、正犯後正犯或共犯。此外，也將分別檢討正犯與共犯之成立要件。最後，本文將檢討我國法上相關法律如何適用以解決網路服務 業者責任，並提出增訂網路服務業者責任規定之建議。 The liability of internet service provider (ISP) is perhaps the most controversial legal issue to emerge from cyberspace. The purpose of this paper is to explore the general principles as to whether there should be civil and criminal liability for ISP concerning subscriber copyright infringement. An in-depth treatment of case study is beyond the scope of this paper. The first section provides an overview of the doctrine of ISP copyright infringement liability in America, followed by the introduction of judicial decisions, opinions of scholars and new legislation. Focusing on criminal liability that could be imposed upon ISP for copyright infringement initiated by subscribers, the second section seeks to illustrate the observation that the individuals who post copyright infringement materials act as principals in the first degree, and ISP would qualify as an accomplice, principal in the second degree, or accessory to the crimes. Furthermore, this section discusses in turn the qualifications for the perpetrators and accomplices. Finally, the third section reviews the current Taiwan tort and criminal law and its application to ISP and concludes that the Taiwan copyright law should make specific provision for ISP liability.
