Robert C. Hauhart
Abstract: This article analyzes the world copyright arena as an example of an international ‘social problem’ that illustrates the problematic nature of applying a single standard of “copyrightability” in a politically, socially, and economically divided world. Namely, international copyright law is at the center of the cultural and political debate between advanced and developing countries. That is, developing countries do not share the advanced countries’ philosophy of international copyright. Developing nations generally advance two arguments in favor of liberalizing existing laws. First, they argue that since education is the key to development, wider distribution of Western materials must be created. Second, it is suggested that indigenous production and creation of cultural materials is hampered by the current arrangements. However, the developing nations are not the only ones to experience this sort of international crisis; advanced nations suffer the brunt of the third world’s response – piracy. Efforts at treaty revision to favor the less developed have been largely unsuccessful. Copyright law has emerged and will remain a serious social problem for both the advanced and developing countries.
Keywords: international copyright law, developing, advanced, treaty, treaties, resolution, conference, social problem, economic, political
