搜索引擎的缓存技术与法律责任

Cache Technology of Search Engine and Its Legal Liability

"缓存"链接技术直接关系到搜索引擎的正常运行,避风港保护对于搜索引擎不仅具有程序上的意义而且具有实质上的价值,但是搜索引擎缓存活动并不适用于系统缓存避风港保护。与其扩大系统缓存避风港保护范围以覆盖搜索引擎缓存技术,不如把搜索引擎缓存技术纳入到信息定位工具避风港保护。搜索引擎抓取、复制网站上侵权作品时,服务商不能以版权人默示许可和禁止反言原则进行侵权抗辩,合理使用抗辩也面临着不确定性。

＂Cached＂ links feature is likely to be deemed to be a prima facie copyright infringement.The defenses of implied license and estoppel do not seem to be appropriate when the cached content has been taken from infringing Web sites.Courts are likely to find that a search engine’s cache constitutes a fair use.However,this outcome is always uncertain.Nonetheless,if a reform were to be made,granting safe harbor protection for search engine caches seems advisable.