Summary: | 近來最重要的著作權法判決就是Kuro 案。在此判決中,P2P 網站經營者與檔案下載會員被論以擅自重製罪之共同正犯。Kuro 判決的重要性不僅在於它討論了檔案下載者的責任,也因為此項判決與較早前宣判的ezPeer判決在P2P 網站經營者責任上之意見有所不同。毫無疑問,法院間的不同意見必然會引起爭論。本文主要研究的問題是P2P 網站經營者是否應被論以擅自重製罪的共同正犯。為了研究上便利,暫時假定下載會員成立擅自重製罪。
本文首先討論刑法第28 條之「共同實行」犯罪之行為的意義,試圖提供共同正犯責任的基本認識以作為之後即將進行案例討論的基礎。除了傳統以來的犯意聯絡與行為分擔要件,本文進一步補充了自己共同犯罪意思、相互利用意思、犯罪構成要件行為實行上的重要性。接下來分別檢討此二案中關於網站經營者與其會員成立共同正犯的意見。本文特別指出Kuro 法院並無法證明Kuro 網站經營者與下載會員間有犯意聯絡。針對本文所要研究問題,本文所做的結論是,P2P 網站經營者僅認識到會員可能進行擅自重製,還不足以成立共同正犯責任。
Recently, the most important criminal copyright case is Kuro, in which the Kuro operators and a downloader were found guilty as co-perpetrators in the commission of the unauthorized reproduction offense. The Kuro court’s decision is important not only because it discusses the issue of the liability of peer-to-peer
(P2P) downloader but because it is different from the ezPeer decision concerning the liability of P2P website operators. Unquestionably, the split between the ezPeer and Kuro cases has generated many debates. The focus of inquiry in the article is whether P2P website operators shall be punished as a co-perpetrator in a joint criminal enterprise directed to commit the unauthorized reproduction offense. For purposes of simplicity and clarity it is assumed here that a P2P downloader commits the unauthorized reproduction offense.
This article begins with a discussion of the meaning of “Co-perpetration” within Article 28 of the Taiwan Penal Code, providing an understanding of joint criminal enterprise liability as a background for the following case discussions. In addition to the two requirements, including agreement to reach a common goal by coordinated co-operation and joint control over the criminal conduct, this article further proposes the following requirements for criminal enterprise liability: (1) the intent to commit with the other perpetrators; (2) the intent to make use of the other perpetrators’ commission of an offense; (3) material
contribution to the execution of criminal conduct. Next, this article reviews the opinions of the ezPeer and Kuro cases in determining the criminal joint liability of P2P website operators. It then argues
that the Kuro court fails to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, an agreement between the Kuro operators and a downloader. It concludes that the mere fact that the P2P operators provide P2P services with knowledge of unauthorized reproduction no longer will suffice to generate criminal enterprise liability.
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