Digital Content Portability and its Relation to Conformity with the Contract

Vol.15,No.1(2021)

Abstract
In this paper the author analyses the possible convergences and divergences of two current legislative proposals of the European Commission: the Portability Regulation and the Digital Content Directive. Both proposals address the issue of access to digital content from different perspectives and complement each other, although they use different legal terminology and in some respects have a different scope of application in the question of cross-border portability of the digital content provided for monetary counter performance to consumers. The Portability Regulation focuses on the cross-border portability of digital content [Art. 3 (1) Portability Regulation), while the Digital Content Directive specifies the consumer rights related to the distribution of digital content and subsumes the accessibility of digital content under the concept of “conformity of the digital content with the contract” [Art. 6 (1), (2) Digital Content Directive). The author aims to answer whether a consumer who is not allowed to use the digital content in EU Member States besides the Member State of his residence will be entitled to pursue claims arising from the non-conformity of the digital content with the contract.

Keywords:
cross-border issues; digital market; portability regulation; digital content directive; contracts; licence agreements; geo-blocking; consumer protection

Pages:
53–84
References

REFERENCES:

An Optional Common European Sales Law: Advantages and Problems Advice to the UK Government, The Law Commission and The Scottish Law Commission. at: <http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/app/uploads/2015/03/Common_European_Sales_Law_Summary.pdf>

Arnerstål, S (2015). Licensing digital content in a sale of goods context. GRUR Int., Volume 64, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1093/jiplp/jpv140

Bach, I (2019) Neue Richtlinien zum Verbrauchsgüterkauf und zu Verbraucherverträgen über digitale Inhalte. Neue Juristische Wochenschrift. Volume 72, Issue 24.

Bar, von Ch, Clive, E, Schulte-Nölke, H (2009) Principles, Definitions and Model Rules of European Private Law Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR). at: <https://www.ccbe.eu/fileadmin/speciality_distribution/public/documents/EUROPEAN_PRIVATE_LAW/EN_EPL_20100107_Principles__definitions_and_model_rules_of_European_private_law_-_Draft_Common_Frame_of_Reference__DCFR_.pdf>

Bar, von Ch, Swann, S (2010) Principles of European Law. Study Group on a European Civil Code. Unjustified Enrichment. Munich: Sellier.

Beale, H (2013) The CESL Proposal: An Overview. Juridica International. Volume 20, Issue 1.

Beale, H (2016) Scope of application and general approach of the new rules for contracts in the digital environment. Workshop of JURI-Committee of the European Parliament. at: <http://www.epgencms.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/upload/4a1651c4-0db0-4142-9580-89b47010ae9f/pe_536.493_print.pdf>

Beale, H (2016) The future of European contract law in the light of the European Commission’s proposals for Directives on digital content and online sales. DP: Revista de Internet, Derecho y Politica. Issue 23. https://doi.org/10.7238/idp.v0i22.3096

Craig, P, de Burca G. (eds.) (1999). The Evolution of EU Law, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Carvalho, J M (2019) Sale of Goods and Supply of Digital Content and Digital Services – Overview of Directives 2019/770 and 2019/771, Journal of European Consumer and Market Law, Volume 8, Issue 5.

Clive, E (2015). Proposal for a Common European Sales Law withdrawn. at: <https://www.unisob.na.it/universita/facolta/giurisprudenza/age/proposal_cesl_withdrawn.pdf>

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. A Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe from 6.5.2016, COM (2015) 192 final. at: <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52015DC0192>

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Towards a modern, more European copyright framework from 9.12.2015, COM (2015) 626 final. at: <https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2015/EN/1-2015-626-EN-F1-1.PDF>

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Commission Work Programme 2015. A New Start, from 16. 12. 2014, COM (2014) 910 final. at: <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2014:910:FIN>

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee. Digital contracts for Europe - Unleashing the potential of e-commerce from 9.12.2015, COM/2015/0633 final. at: <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52015DC0633>

De Franceschi, A (2016) European Contract Law and the Digital Single Market: The Implications of Digital Revolution. Mortsel: Intersentia. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781780685212

Engles, S; Nordemann, J B (2018) The Portability Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1128): A Commentary on the Scope and Application. Journal of Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Electronic Commerce, Volume 9, Issue 2.

Helberger, N et al. (2013) Digital Content Contracts for Consumers. Journal of Consumer Policy. Volume 36, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-012-9201-1

Helberger, N, Hugenholtz, P B (2007), No place like home for making a copy: private copying in European copyright law and consumer law, Berkeley Technology Law Journal, Volume 22, Issue 3

Hoffman, J (2016) Crossing Borders in the Digital Market: A Proposal to End Copyright Territoriality and Geo-Blocking in the European Union. George Washington International Law Review, Volume 49, Issue 3.

Impact Assessment: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to ensure the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market from 9.12.2015. SWD (2015) 270 final. at: <https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2015/EN/1-2015-627-EN-F1-1.PDF>

Impact Assessment: Proposals for Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content and (2) on certain aspects concerning contracts for the online and other distance sales of goods from 17.12.2015. SWD(2015) 274 final/2. at: <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2015:0274:FIN:EN:PDF>

Koukal, P (2018) Consumer Protection and the Portability Regulation. In Staníčková, M (eds.) Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on European Integration. Ostrava: VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava.

Licences for Europe - Structured Stakeholder Dialogue 2013, WG 1 Audio-visual Subgroup, Joint Statement on Cross-border Portability of lawfully-acquired Audio-visual Content. at <https://ec.europa.eu/licences-for-europe-dialogue/sites/licences-for-europe-dialogue/files/1-AV-portability.pdf>

Loewenheim, U (2010) Handbuch des Urheberrechts. 2nd ed. Verlag C.H.Beck, München

Loos, M B M et al. (2011). Analysis of the applicable legal frameworks and suggestions for the contours of a model system of consumer protection in relation to digital content contracts. at: <https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4fee0cc7-5f4d-46c5-897b-48844f07f027>

Mak, C (2016) The new proposal for harmonised rules on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital. <http://www.europarl.europa.eu/supporting-analyses>

Mazziotti, G (2016) Is Geo-blocking a Real Cause for Concern in Europe?’(2016). EIPR. Volume 38, Issue 6. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2728675

Micklitz, H W (1999) Principles of Social Justice in European Private Law. Yearbook of European Law. Volume 19, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1093/yel/19.1.167

Cherednychenko, O (2007) Fundamental Rights, Contract Law and the Protection of the Weaker Party: A Comparative Analysis of the Constitutionalisation of Contract Law. Sellier, München. https://doi.org/10.1515/ERCL.2006.036

Oprysk, L, Sein, K (2020) Limitations in End-User Licensing Agreements: Is There a Lack of Conformity Under the New Digital Content Directive? IIC - International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law, Volume 51, Issue 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40319-020-00941-y

Pongelli, G (2013) The Proposal for a Regulation on a Common European Sales Law (CESL) and its Gradual Evolution. Comparative Law Review. Volume 4, Issue 1.

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects concerning contracts for the online and other distance sales of goods from 9.12.2015, COM(2015) 635 final. at: <https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2015/EN/1-2015-635-EN-F1-1.PDF>

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on addressing geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers' nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC from 25.5.2016, COM (2016) 289. at: <https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2016/EN/1-2016-289-EN-F1-1.PDF>

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on ensuring the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market from 9.12.2015, COM (2015) 627 final. at: <https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2015/EN/1-2015-627-EN-F1-1.PDF>

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Common European Sales Law, COM (2011) 635 final. at: <https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52011PC0635>

Rafel, R M (2016) The Directive Proposals on Online Sales and Supply of Digital Content (Part I): will the new rules attain their objective of reducing legal complexity. IDP: Revista de Internet, Derecho y Politica. Issue 23.

Ramalho, A (2014) Conceptualising the European Union’s Competence in Copyright – What Can the EU Do? International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law. Volume 45, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40319-014-0161-7

Schulze, R, Schulte-Nölke H (eds.) (2011) European Private Law - Current Status and Perspectives. München: Sellier. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783866539334

Schulze, R (2012) Common European Sales Law (CESL) - Commentary. Baden-Baden, München, Oxford: C.H. Beck, Hart, Nomos. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845265469

Snyder, D V (1996) The Case of Natural Obligations. Lousiana Law Review. Volume 56, Issue 2.

Spindler, G (2016). Die Modernisierung des europäischen Urheberrechts Der Vorschlag zur Portabilitäts-VO und die Planungen der EU-Kommission. Computer und Recht, Volume 32, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.9785/cr-2016-0204

Spindler, G (2016) Digitale Wirtschaft -- analoges Recht: Braucht das BGB ein Update? Juristenzeitung. Volume 71, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1628/002268816X14695244842576

Spindler, G (2016) Verträge über digitale Inhalte – Anwendungsbereich und Ansätze Vorschlag der EU-Kommission zu einer Richtlinie über Verträge zur Bereitstellung digitaler Inhalte. Multimedia und Recht, Volume 19, Issues 3,4.

Spindler, G (2016) Verträge über digitale Inhalte – Haftung, Gewährleistung und Portabilität Vorschlag der EU-Kommission zu einer Richtlinie über Verträge zur Bereitstellung digitaler Inhalte, Multimedia und Recht, Volume 20, Issue 4.

Spindler, G, Sein, K (2019) Die endgültige Richtlinie über Verträge über digitale Inhalte und Dienstleistungen. MMR – Zeitschrift für IT-Recht und Recht der Digitalisierung. Volume 22, Issue 7.

Staudenmayer, D (2016) Verträge über digitalen Inhalt Der Richtlinienvorschlag der Europäischen Kommission. Neue Juristische Wochenschrift. Volume 69, Issue 37.

Synodinou, T E (2020) Geoblocking in EU Copyright Law: Challenges and Perspectives. GRUR International. Volume 69, Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1093/grurint/ikaa001

Synodinou, T E (2020). EU Internet Law: Regulation and Enforcement. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Thomas, J. et al. Statement of the European Law Institute On the European Commission’s proposed Directive on the Supply of Digital Content to Consumers COM (2015) 634 final. at: <http://www.europeanlawinstitute.eu/home/news-contd/article/the-eli-publishes-its-statement-on-the-european-commissions-proposed-directive-on-the-supply-of-dig/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=180991&cHash=c0009025cff265addbd4819c8110e410 >

Trimble M (2012) The Future of Cybertravel: Legal Implications of the Evasion of Geolocation. Fordham Intellectual Property Media & Entertainment Law Journal. Volume 22, Issue 3.

Trimble, M (2016) The role of geoblocking in the Internet legal landscape. IDP: Revista de Internet, Derecho y Politica. Issue 23. https://doi.org/10.7238/idp.v0i22.3076

Twigg-Flesner, Ch (2013) The Europeanisation of Contract Law. Current controversies in law. 2nd ed. London (UK), New York (USA): Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203549377

Zoll, F (2016) The Remedies in the Proposals of the Only Sales Directive and the Directive on the Supply of Digital Content. Journal of European Consumer and Market Law, Volume 5, Issue 6.

Metrics

0

Crossref logo

0


470

Views

467

PDF views