Anne Frank's Diary: Are Copyrights Still Valid 80 Years Later? | Attorney Ram Freis Siton

A ruling by the European Court of Justice determined that geo-blocking using modern means is an effective measure for protecting copyright on the internet, even if it can be bypassed using a VPN. The ruling was issued in the context of Anne Frank's diary, which is protected in the Netherlands until 2037 but is in the public domain in Belgium.

A new ruling by the European Court of Justice has established important rules regarding the protection of copyright on the internet when a work is protected in one country but is in the public domain in another. The ruling was issued in the context of Anne Frank's diary, written during her hiding in Amsterdam and published after her death. The expanded version of the diary, published in 1986, is protected in the Netherlands until January 1, 2037, but in Belgium it has been in the public domain since 2016. The Anne Frank Foundation published an academic version of the manuscripts on a server in Belgium, using geo-blocking to prevent access from the Netherlands. The court ruled that geo-blocking using modern means is sufficiently effective, even if it can be bypassed using a VPN. It further ruled that liability for copyright infringement lies with the publisher only if the blocking is not effective, and not with VPN providers. The ruling has broad implications for the streaming and sports broadcasting industries.