The Status of Internet Service Providers in Copyright Law
Xiong Min-rui · Journal of China Three gorges University · 2008
The status of internet service providers in copyright law depends on the functions of their internet service providers in the internet.We know that there are two main functions of internet service providers: provider of information and platform of communication.As the provider of information,the operators of internet service providers take part in internet information communication as ICP(internet content provider).The operator of internet service providers is just a publisher as in copyright law.As the platform of communication,the internet mediate provider is comprised of IAP(internet access provider)and host computer provider.When the operators of internet service providers function as host computer provider,they are new type information providers more than publisher and distributor.