互联网上电影侵权问题的过去、现在和将来外文翻译.docxVIP

原文 Coming Soon to a P.C. Near You: The Past, Present, and Future of Movie Copyright Infringement on the Internet by Stephen Bates INTRODUCTION The latest Hollywood blockbuster just opened in theaters across the country today. Youve seen the commercials. You have read the reviews. You have even stayed up well past midnight to watch the stars promoting the movie on late night talk shows. If you are like most people, to see this movie, you would probably drive down to your local Cineplex and dish out $9.00 for the flick. There are a growing number of movie fans, however, that save the gas money for the drive and their $9.00 and watch the same movie from the comfort of their home office on their personal computer for free. For years, the battle over copyright infringement on the Internet was between the music industry and software developers/users. Now, with advances in technology that allow full-length movies to be downloaded in as little as 2 hours, the motion picture industry has entered the fray. To survive, in a game of keeping up with the Jones, the motion picture industry must embrace the technology it has been fighting because current copyright laws offer them no protection. This paper will explore the growing popularity of movie piracy and the Internets role in making it accessible to millions. Part I of this paper will give a brief overview of copyright law in general. Part II will trace the history of copyright infringement on the Internet and the lawmakers response to this infringement. Part III will explore motion picture copyright infringement both offline and online. This paper will also discuss the present uses of technology to facilitate infringement, offer predictions for future copyright issues and provide possible solutions. I. BACKGROUND OF COPYRIGHT LAW The Copyright Act of 1976 protects all original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression. Works of authorship include literary works, musical works, dramatic works, pictoria