The European Union law concept of communication to the public and the protection of copyright in electronic transmissions

Examines the European Court of Justice's development of rules applicable to disputes between users and copyright holders involving audio and visual electronic transmission systems. Reviews the court's clarification of the term "communication to the public", and its development in respect of communication of football matches using foreign decoder cards, re-broadcasting by satellite television providers, broadcasts of background music by a dentist and broadcasting of phonograms by a hotel owner. Notes the pending ruling on the position of internet-based live streaming of television programmes.