Reconciling the Right to Learn with Copyright Protection in the Digital Age: Limitations of Contemporary Copyright Treaties

Abstract

Abstract This article examines whether the current exceptions to copyright granted in contemporary intellectual property agreements give effect to the user rights to learn. It looks into the nature of the user rights to learn and how it is affected by copyright, technological protection measures, and digital rights management. Critical analysis is made of the effectiveness of exceptions to copyrights in international law, for advancing the users’ right to learn in the digital age. The article proposes the right to learn as an independent user right and examines how it can be incorporated in the copyright regulations by maximizing the differentiation principle, so as to advance the overall development in society.