论电视节目版式的著作权保护

The Protection of TV Program Format

国内外学界对于电视节目版式的版权保护还没有形成统一的共识。我国现有的著作权法并没有明确规定电视节目版式的法律保护,国内外司法实践中将电视节目版式纳入商标法、反不正当竞争法或者合同法进行保护。传统观点认为,电视节目版式被认为是"创意",性质上属于"思想"而非"表达",因此被归入知识产权的"公有领域",不对电视节目版式进行版权保护。然而,电视节目贸易市场日益繁荣,市场中自由交易的电视节目版式带来巨大利润,而这些事实指向了电视节目版式具有独创性和可复制性的特征。电视节目版式是对节目"创意"、"结构"或"情节"的整体而具体的表达,是对规则、程序的具体呈现方式的创造性表达,因此,它不单纯属于"创意"或"思想",而是形成了一种特殊的表达。应将节目版式纳入版权保护的范畴,对克隆节目版式的行为明确予以法律上否定性的评价,通过著作权法保护和规范电视节目版式的交易市场。

There is no consensus on the protection of TV program format. In Chinese copyright law,there are no specific rules about the protection of TV program format. Other countries apply trademarks law,unti- unfair competition law or contract law onto the TV program format issues. A traditional view is that the format is a kind of idea,or thought. It is not seen as a kind of expression,and therefore should be put into the public domain. In this view,the copyright law therefore should not be concerned with the protection of TV program format. However,the trade market of the format is booming,which leads to big profits. The format has its originality and re- producibility,and therefore constitute a unique ＂ expression＂. The copyright law can regulate the copy of the TV program format,and protect the business market of the format.