Creative Commons

This dissertation was written as part of the Master of Arts (MA) in Art, Law and Economy at the International Hellenic University. The outcome of this dissertation sheds some light on the issues of Private International Law that exist in case of Copyright Infringements in the Online environment. The relationship between copyright and private international law constitutes a legal challenge. The increase in conflicts involving international and trans-border elements, in a world characterised by global trade and borderless communication structures, has drawn the two fields close and with the emergence of the Internet, the enforcement of cross-border copyright infringements has become highly relevant. With the prevalence of online “piracy”, the efficient enforcement of copyright has proven to be a challenging task for both the legislators and the courts. The territorial in nature national copyright law is challenged by the development of Internet. In the European Union, the Member States have adopted a Council Regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. These rules apply to contracts dealing, for example, with the making available right, however, in some cases of Copyright infringement, there is a lack of legal certainty for the interested parties. The choice of applicable law in cases of copyright infringement with a foreign element is a quite complicated matter, on which there is divergence of opinions. The importance of applicable law in case of intra community and international in general conflict of laws remains a topic of great interest. First and foremost, I am delighted and grateful for having Dr. Irini Stamatoudi as my supervisor, whose encouragement and guidance have been very helpful to me. My deepest expression of appreciation goes to my partner in life, Petros Κ. Karachristou. His love, patience and support have made it possible for me to pursue this Master. I want to express my high appreciation for the true friendship to Sophia Eumoiridou, my “partner in crime”, for her constant support and hospitality during my studies. I would especially like to thank my friend and colleague, Angeliki Panagiotakopoulou, who encouraged me to apply for this Master – together we overcome the obstacles that are holding our goals hostage. A special thank you goes to Christina Spiliotopoulou; the long hours of studying together are unforgettable and the neck massages were very valuable. Last, but not least, I would like to thank my friend and colleague Eva M. Moustaka, as without her, this Master would not be as meaningful as it now is. Keywords: Private international law, Copyright, Infringement, Jurisdiction, Applicable law, Internet