Copyright laws and online

The copyright protection offered to databases and online systems under the new UK legislation is reviewed. The copyrights applicable to the contents of an online search and to a complete database are considered, also to the provision of documents subsequent to a search. Information passed through a system of computer, telecommunications network and termi nals is separately protected and forms yet another layer of copyright. In addition to the familiar economic rights, the effect of the new moral rights are explained. For instance they can be used to insist on error correction. A green paper from the EEC details its plans to tailor copynght protection to the needs of the single market of 1992. These proposals set the UK provisions in their international context.