Study on IP Enforcement Measures, Especially Anti-Piracy Measures in the Digital Environment

This study provides an overview of current approaches to online copyright infringements, focusing specifically on the responses to piracy in the digital sphere across the world. The study explores the global problem of online piracy, the different types of digital tools and administrative measures used by rights holders, online platforms, governments and the judiciary. These digital tools and measures include blocking, notice and take-down, notice and stay-down, filtering and monitoring, Bad Actor1 listings, “follow-the-money” principle, public awareness initiatives, codes of conduct and voluntary guidelines, and digital authentication tools such as Blockchain. The study incorporates a discussion on the issues concerning anonymity and the “whack-a-mole” problem and notes the challenge of balancing fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and data privacy rights and the protection of copyright. The study highlights the gaps within the legal measures used at present and current discussions around a possible uniform approach in the form of global guidelines in response to the present dilemma