| Abstract: | 在網路商業化的推波助瀾之下，網站如雨後春筍般的出現。在許多如繁星的網站中，為了吸引客戶或是消費者上門，網站都必須以電子方式提供一定的資料，有些業者更開發出各種的搜尋引擎協助網路使用人尋求所需要的資料。更值得注意的，就是為了追求生存的利基，各種不同網站或不同的商業模式亦發展出不同的資料庫，其目的則在滿足網路使用人的各種需求，並透過網路的連線，迅速的提供使用人所需要的資料。但是這些以電子方式呈現的資料，也有一個根本的問題，那就是可以輕易的為他人複製，也因此引發對這電子式資料內容保護的問題。而在這些不斷出現的法律問題之中，最嚴重也最引發各方關切的，就是資料內容的數位化，以及後續的保護與重製問題。另一方面，由於網路的利用，使得網路上電子式資料庫的保護也日趨重要，更重要的，就是某些特殊類型的網站，例如拍賣網站、人力資源網站、不動產網站等，其之所以能夠在競爭激烈的電子商務環境中存活，就是透過不斷累積之資料所形成的資料庫。若他人將其資料庫中的資料以不正當的方式加以擷取利用，則不可避免的會對該資料庫的建置人造成一定的影響。因此，如何在目前無法運用著作權保護的環境中，尋求對資料庫建置人給與一定的保護，就成為資料庫建置人與使用人關切的重點。一般而言，對資料庫與其所蒐集資料是否能夠獲得保護，國際監視透過國際公約的方式進行，不論是世界貿易組織 WTO 之「與貿易有關的智慧財產權協定」（ TRIPS）或是世界智慧財產權組織（ WIPO）之著作權條約（ WCT）等國際條約，或是各國的著作權法已經對此有明文的規定。除了國際性條約之外，為了加強對電子式資料庫之保護，區域性組織（例如歐體）或是個別的國家（例如美國）亦嘗試以立法的方式處理資料庫內容保護的問題，例如歐體通過了資料庫保護指令。對於資料保護與資料內容之重製問題，美國司法實務見解除了根據著作權法之外，亦積極的以不公平競爭（ unfair competition）的方式加以處理。但是相對的，國內司法判決雖然有少術判決對資料重製的問題有所討論，但是仍然有限，故業者反而偏重於尋求公平交易主管機關的救濟。但是在國內的情況下，亦引發一些問題，特別是他人未經合法授權或違反使用契約所為之利用行為，是否構成不公平競爭；若符合不公平競爭的情事，則可採何種救濟方式為適當，而在國內公平交易委員會方面，對於有關資料複製的案件都是以公平交易法第二十四條加以處分，但是此亦涉及此種處理方式是否適當的問題。當然，更複雜的就是公平會已修改了第二十四條的處理原則，因此未來我國應如何面對與處理電子式資料的複製問題，或是更進一步尋求如何保護此等電子式資料，就有研究之價值。
Even before the dotcom debacle and the beginning of the fierce competition for the revenue, many websites have resorted to use abundance of the digitized content to attract web surfers. Many websites also provide search engine to facilitate users finding the necessary data. Nevertheless, such electronic data have a special nature that is they are easily subject to reproduction. As a result, hoe to protect its digitized content from unauthorized use has become an important issue for many websites. Such problem is especially serious for many commercially successful business models, such as auction, human resources and real estate websites. Such websites` strength is generally based on their ability to provide unique and broad-based electronic data to all users. If such data were massively duplicated and used for competition purposes, then it will cause serious detriment to the websites that have invest substantial amount of resources in building up their content. Notwithstanding the seriousness of the problem, the protection for the electronic data is nothing but adequate. Even though WIPO and WTO have tried to protect database through different approaches, no international treaty has being passed yet. As a result, individual countries are seeking their own initiatives in protecting the electronic database. For example, European Community passed its own Database Directives. As for the United States, because the Supreme Court`s decision on Feist v. Rurual Tel. Co. permits duplication of data in public domain, no similar database protection law has being passed. As a result, US Courts have devised different theory in dealing with electronic data issues. As for Taiwan, since only a few judicial decisions are directly relating to the electronic data protection issue, many websites owners try to seek protection through the application of the Fair Trade Law. The authority, The Fair Commission, has also made several decisions regarding the unauthorized data reproduction issue. Nevertheless, it also raises disputes regarding the appropriation of such decisions. In order to clarify the problem that posed against to all websites operators, this research is seeking to explore the possibility and feasibility of setting up an appropriate legal protection regime. The focus of this research will be on the international trend in database protection, but will also deals with the change of rules regarding the Fair Trade Law and other judicial decisions regarding the data protection in Taiwan. |
