PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ON THE INTERNET

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights on the Internet in the context of rapid technological development and the globalization of the information environment. It is substantiated that the digital environment significantly transforms social relations related to the creation, use, and dissemination of intellectual outputs, while simultaneously generating new challenges for the effective protection of authors, performers, and other right holders. The study identifies the specific characteristics of the Internet, including its decentralized and cross-border nature, the absence of a single regulatory authority, the high speed of information dissemination, the possibility of anonymous use, and the ease of copying digital content. These features considerably complicate the detection of infringements, the identification of offenders, and the enforcement of liability, as well as the process of proving violations of intellectual property rights. Doctrinal approaches to understanding intellectual property as a complex legal institution are analyzed. The structure of intellectual property law is outlined, encompassing copyright and related rights, patent law, and means of individualization. Particular emphasis is placed on copyright, as it is the area most frequently affected by infringements in the digital environment. The article examines the specific nature of digital intellectual property objects, including their ability to be stored, reproduced, and distributed without significant loss of quality, as well as their instant accessibility regardless of the user’s location. It is demonstrated that these characteristics contribute to the widespread unauthorized use of protected works online. The publication of works on the Internet is considered a form of use that requires the authorization of the right holder.