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A scientific study commissioned by ISPA - Internet Service Providers Austria. The study aims at identifying the main obstacles to an efficient rights management for online music and presents alternatives with the potential to considerably improve the situation. In a first step (Part A), the legal situation of copyright and the legal framework for online businesses is evaluated in selected European countries: Austria, Germany, France, Poland, UK. Based on the country reports and against the background of the European legal framework different levels of fragmentation can be identified as the main obstacles for an efficient rights management in the online music sector: lack of transparency in rights management and lack of ownership data, high costs of negotiations and licensing as well as legal uncertainties and different legal rules in different member states. Part B is dedicated to discussing different options for solutions: installation of databases and standardisation; alternatives for reducing the fragmentation of rights on different levels (one-stop-shops, multi-territorial hubs, “European passport” implemented in the Directive 2014/26/EU on collective management of copyrights and multiterritorial licensing); dual licensing allowing for commercial exploitation and in parallel non-commercial use. Conclusions and recommendations with respect to the most appropriate business models as well as the need to change the regulatory framework are presented in Part C. Thus the reader will get a profound insight into the complex situation of music copyright and the intricate patterns of rights clearance in the field of online music on a multi-territorial scale.

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New economic developments like E-Commerce raise significant economic and legal questions, often treated differently across jurisdictions or lacking regulation altogether. Companies face considerable uncertainty regarding international transactions typical of E-Commerce. Existing European and national regulations provide partial clarification, but legal interpretations and solutions vary among countries and their courts. This work offers an overview of key legal issues in E-Commerce for international entities and consultants by detailing the regulatory framework in nine European countries—Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands—as well as the United States. Contributions are organized alphabetically and follow a uniform questionnaire format, allowing readers to quickly find answers to specific legal questions across all countries. The aim is not to extensively discuss each legal issue but to present a clear overview of the main questions and trends in E-Commerce Law, particularly concerning the adoption of various EU Directives.