Abstract
The paper examines the idea of copyright and how it functions for both digital and non-digital publications. Various different interpretations of copyright and its application are discussed. Ideas such as databases, fair use and exceptions are explored in their relationship to technological measures used to control the use of copyright material. Examples from the CITED, COPYSMART, IMPRIMATUR, and COPICAT projects of the European Union are described briefly. The impact of the latest EU directive on copyright and the information society is explained and the need for co-operative planning and implementation of technical measures throughout the information industry is emphasised.