Table of Contents i
Executive Summary 1
I. Introduction 2
II. Rationales for Protecting Signals 5
iii. Stakeholders Affected by the Proposed Treaty 6
Authors and Performers 7
Production Firms 8
Content Rights Holders and Licensers 9
Broadcasters/Cablecasters and Cable and Satellite System Operators 10
Audiences/Consumers/Users 11
States/Governments 12
Society 14
IV. Unauthorized Signal Use 15
Unauthorized Pre-Public Transmission Signal Uses 16
Unauthorized Use in the Terrestrial and Satellite Environment 16
Unauthorized Reception 16
Unauthorized Decryption 17
Unauthorized Retransmission 18
Unauthorized Fixation 19
Unauthorized Post-Fixation Use 19
Unauthorized Use in the Cable Environment 20
Unauthorized Connection 20
Unauthorized Decryption 21
Unauthorized Retransmission 21
Unauthorized Fixation 22
Unauthorized Post-Fixation Use 22
V. FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMICS OF BROADCASTING AND CABLECASTING 22
Broadcasting as a Public Good 23
The Challenge of Prices 24
Implications of Cost Structures of Different Types of Broadcasting 26
VI. ECONOMIC LOSSES IN UNAUTHORIZED USES OF SIGNALS 27
Broadcasting and Issues of Demand 28
VII. EFFECTS OF UNAUTHORIZED USES ON INVESTMENT 36
VIII. EFFECTS OF UNAUTHORIZED USES ON PROFITS 37
IX. ECONOMIC ISSUES OF SOCIAL WELFARE 37
X. EFFECTS OF RIGHTS AND LICENSES ON ABILITIES OF BROADCASTERS
AND CABLECASTERS TO EXPLOIT THEIR SIGNALS 42
Rights and Licenses in a Broadcast Stream 43
Right of Retransmission 44
Right of Fixation 45
Post-Fixation Rights 45
Protection in Relation to Signals Prior to Broadcast or Cablecast 46
Cases Illustrating the Impact of Unauthorized Use or Retransmission 46
How Signal Reception and Retransmission Outside an Intended Market or Audience Affects Rights and Licenses and Other Potential Uses 47
Benefits to Rights Holders if Broadcasters/Cablecasters are Able to Control Signal, Retransmission, and Post-Fixation Rights 49
XI. CONTRIBUTIONS OF UNLICENSED USE OF SIGNALS TO SOCIAL WELFARE 50
Exceptions in the Public Interest 51
Broadcasting and the Public Interest 51
Cases in which Public Interest Arguments are Seen by Some to Rise
above the Proposed Treaty’s Signal Protections 53
XII. ASSESSING OVERALL EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED TREATY 57
XIII. How Stakeholders are Affected by the Proposed Treaty 59
Authors and Performers, Production Firms, and Rights Holders/Licensers 59
Broadcasters (Terrestrial and Satellite) and Cablecasters and Cable/Satellite Operators 60
Audiences/Consumers/Users 60
States/Governments 60
Society 61
XIV. BALANCE OF BENEFITS ANALYSIS 70
XV. HOW BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES MIGHT EVOLVE OVER TIME 72
XVI. ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF SEEKING BENEFITS 74
XVII. CONCLUSIONS 76