Deep pockets, packets, and harbours

Margoni, T. and Perry, M. (2013) Deep pockets, packets, and harbours. Ohio State Law Journal, 74(6), pp. 1195-1216.

[img]
Preview
Text
129337.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

254kB

Publisher's URL: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/students/groups/oslj/previous-issues/volume-74-2013/volume-74-number-6/

Abstract

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is a set of methodologies used for the analysis of data flow over the Internet. It is the intention of this paper to describe technical details of this issue and to show that by using DPI technologies it is possible to understand the content of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol communications. This communications can carry public available content, private users information, legitimate copyrighted works, as well as infringing copyrighted works. Legislation in many jurisdictions regarding Internet service providers’ liability, or more generally the liability of communication intermediaries, usually contains “safe harbour” provisions. The World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty of 1996 has a short but significant provision excluding liability for suppliers of physical facilities. The provision is aimed at communication to the public and the facilitation of physical means. Its extensive interpretation to cases of contributory or vicarious liability, in absence of specific national implementation, can prove problematic. Two of the most relevant legislative interventions in the field, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the European Directive on Electronic Commerce, regulate extensively the field of intermediary liability. This paper looks at the relationship between existing packet inspection technologies, especially the ‘deep version,’ and the international and national legal and regulatory interventions connected with intellectual property protection and with the correlated liabilities ‘exemptions. In analyzing the referred two main statutes, we will take a comparative look at similar interventions in Australia and Canada that can offer some interesting elements of reflection.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Margoni, Dr Thomas
Authors: Margoni, T., and Perry, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Law
Journal Name:Ohio State Law Journal
Publisher:Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law
ISSN:0048-1572
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2013 The Authors
First Published:First published in Ohio State Law Journal 74(6):1195-1216
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record