온라인 웹하드 서비스의 공중송신권 침해와 공모공동정범 성립 여부

Abstract

Recently, Online Web-hard(Web-storage) service providers were prosecuted for violation of public transmission in Copyright Act, and were indicted for Co-conspirator in Criminal Act. Usually online service providers have been responsible for their criminal act as assistance, but in this case court should judge the behavior of online service provider as principal or not. Therefore this case asks us to which extent would be regulated Online criminal acts. From the recent theories and court precedents, I think it is improper to deal with this case as matter of Co-conspirators. Because Co-conspirator is regarded as Co-principal in criminal law, so he or she must commits an offence or an accomplice actually or constructively present during commission of the offence and should permit or engage another to act for his or her benefit, in accordance with his or her direction and subject to his or her control. But in this case, Online Web-hard service providers did only assist the principals who violated other's copyrights through unlawful transmission, they did not take part in conspiracy and did not control another to upload unlawful digital contents. I think it is possible to deal with this case as matter of assistance of public transmission. Further, the exemption clause Article 102 and 104 of Copyright Act could be considered in deciding as assistance. And court may accept the exemption when Online Web-hard service providers have done all technical measures if possible at the request of copyright assertors.