STRENGTHENING PROTECTION OF THAI SONGWRITERS UNDER THE WIPO COPYRIGHT TREATY (WCT) FRAMEWORK WITH BLOCKCHAIN INNOVATION
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Abstract
This study entitled “Strengthening the Protection of Thai Songwriters through the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) Legal Framework and Blockchain Innovation” aims to: (1) examine the framework of the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) in protecting the rights of songwriters in the digital era; (2) analyze the limitations and exceptions of Thailand’s copyright system in relation to the protection of songwriters’ rights in the digital context; and (3) propose approaches for integrating the WCT legal framework with blockchain innovation to enhance the effectiveness of copyright protection for Thai songwriters. This research adopts a documentary research methodology by collecting and analyzing data from Thailand’s Copyright Act, international copyright instruments under the WCT framework, documents published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and relevant academic literature. A comparative legal analysis is employed to synthesize policy-oriented recommendations for the development of Thai copyright law in accordance with international standards.
The findings reveal that: (1) the WIPO Copyright Treaty plays a significant role in establishing international standards for the protection of the exclusive rights of songwriters in the digital environment, covering the rights of reproduction, distribution, and communication to the public, as well as providing technological protection measures (TPMs) and rights management information (RMI) to prevent copyright infringement; (2) although Thai copyright law provides exceptions based on the principle of fair use and permits uses for educational and public-interest purposes, it remains limited in terms of enforcement and in effectively addressing copyright infringement in the online environment; and (3) the integration of blockchain technology can strengthen copyright protection mechanisms by enhancing transparency, traceability, and reliability in royalty collection, thereby supporting legal enforcement in accordance with the Three-Step Test under the WCT framework.
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