免费Wi-Fi提供者的版权侵权责任研究

Study of Free Wi-Fi Providers' Copyright Infringement Liability

为更好地吸引并留住顾客,越来越多的经营场所开始免费向公众提供Wi-Fi服务,可这一双赢的便民举措却十分容易被不法利用。在德国,免费Wi-Fi提供者就遭遇了版权侵权诉讼。而实际审理过程中,法院在诸多问题上产生了争议。结合欧盟法院的最新判决,根据免费Wi-Fi的技术特征与服务特点,分析其具体的法律性质,可以判断免费Wi-Fi提供者的法律责任,同时对提供免费Wi-Fi服务的经营场所提出可行建议,帮助其规避潜在的版权侵权风险。

Free Wi-Fi has been available to the public in increasingly more premises,attracting and retaining customers.However,the win-win boon is susceptible to illegal use.In Germany,a free Wi-Fi provider was confronted with infringement of copyright and there were divergent views over several issues during the trial.Whereas this article will analyze the legal nature of free Wi-Fi and determine the legal liability of free Wi-Fi providers according to the latest decisions of ECJ(European Court of Justice)and technological and service features of free Wi-Fi.In addition,some suggestions will be given to those who provide free Wi-Fi,avoiding the potential risk of copyright infringement.