DATABASE COPYRIGHT ISSUES IN THE EUROPEAN GIS COMMUNITY

The production and dissemination of European geographic information system (GIS) databases are rapidly outpacing the legal structure's ability to protect and regulate the flow of such information. This situation places increased pressure on users, suppliers, and official copyright authorities to adjust the law to accommodate these changes. Database suppliers argue that the present unevenness of the European legal protection setting creates an uncertain and risky environment which is not conducive to investment. In response, the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) has proposed a Directive on the Copyright of Databases to address the concerns of the database industry. This article outlines the current legal structure of the European GIS database industry, critiques the impending CEC Directive, and emphasizes the inevitable need for global consensus on these important issues.