The Politics of Online Copyright Enforcement in the EU

This book provides insight into the intense conflict and stalemate of online copyright enforcement policy in the European Union. Building on the theory of political economy of communications and an in-depth empirical analysis of four policy initiatives, this study shows how online copyright enforcement serves as a battleground for debating the nature of knowledge and cultural creation and the role of Internet intermediaries in regulating the availability of creative content on the Internet. While copyright seeks to protect creative content, the Internet encourages widespread distribution, and consequently, engenders agency and hope for an alternative non-market based culture and democracy. This book raises concern about the proposed proactive role of Internet intermediaries.