Copyright and its Place in the Information Society

Abstract: This thesis addresses the ongoing downloading debate and clash between the copyright system and the technological advancements that are made in terms of means for communication that are ever so present in our society focused on communication and information sharing. Somewhere along the way the products of our communication became carriers of economical value which have had the effect that these products have been the primary focus rather than communication itself. However, in the advent of the Internet this focus stands at a crossroad as the products of our communicative efforts now stands against the continuing advancements for new means of communication where communication instead is the main focus. Can these two different focuses live side by side or does one of them have to give in? The inquiry in focus relates to if the copyright system is actually hindering new means for communication as some of the new technologies that facilitate easier and more effective ways to communicate are in certain specific aspects held to be illegal to make use of.