Abstract:

The concept of copyright, in its traditional acceptance, is shifting now from a mostly legal area to become a real “societal issue”, with sociological, economical and political connotations. But this goes with a radical change of values. The times when Victor Hugo declared “intellectual property is a universal benefit” are gone indeed. Nowadays, its legitimity is contested, and its opponents consider it as an obstacle to the free access to intellectual works. The electronic revolution has increased this evolution so much so that one must wonder whether copyright are still legitimous in the information society.