The Internet and Copyright in Music

The music industry is busy formulating its policy with regard to the enforcement of copyright on the Internet. The problems essentially rest with two main branches of the industry - the recording branch and those involved in the protection of copyright - although it would appear that the main concern lies with the Performers' Rights Society and its overseas equivalents. ...

The New Code Order

Under Israeli law, means of encryption have to date been treated in all respects in the same way as weapons. This is prescribed in the Control of Commodities and Services (Weapons and Security Know-How) Declaration, 5747-1986. This Declaration combines with the Control of Exports (Weapons and Military Know-How) Order, 5737-1977, according to which "means of encryption" constitute weapons, the ...

Digital Money (Part 1)

The total virtualisation of payments finds striking expression in digital money. These are bits of data, representing money, which are purchased for consideration from an issuer and stored on the computer's hard drive or in an electronic wallet. Legally, digital cash constitutes the issuer's obligation to convert it into legal tender when the electronic bits are returned to it.

Digital ...

Digital Money (Part 2)

Ever since the time of the Bar Kochba revolt, currency has been a clear symbol of national sovereignty. The power to issue it rests solely with the state or its authorities (section 28 of the Bank of Israel Law, chapter 34 of the US Code). At the same time, currency represents the economic stability of the issuing state. In this ...

Yahoo! Inc. v. Yahoo-Israel

On 1st July 1998 the District Court of Tel Aviv awarded the force of a judgment to an understanding reached in the first Israeli dispute relating to domain names (CF 615/98, MA 6529/96). In the understanding, Yahoo Israel undertook to stop using the name "Yahoo" within 24 hours and to transfer to Yahoo! Inc. all the rights in the domain ...

The Liability Of Internet Service Providers

The World Trend


The liability of Internet service providers ("ISPs") for the content passing through their computers or included in the sites hosted by them, is the subject of fierce controversy. Their possible liability extends over a wide range of routine Internet acts and situations. Just a few examples appear below:
  • An Internet site defames someone or infringes his privacy ...