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Png, Ivan Paak Liang; Wang, Qiu-hong --- "Copyright law and the supply of creative work: Evidence from the movies" [2016] ELECD 339; in Eisenberg, Theodore; Ramello, B. Giovanni (eds), "Comparative Law and Economics" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016) 407

Book Title: Comparative Law and Economics

Editor(s): Eisenberg, Theodore; Ramello, B. Giovanni

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9780857932570

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Copyright law and the supply of creative work: Evidence from the movies

Author(s): Png, Ivan Paak Liang; Wang, Qiu-hong

Number of pages: 35

Abstract/Description:

There is almost no empirical evidence on the extent to which copyright law works in the sense of increasing the production of creative work. Here, we study the impact of two major changes in copyright law – the extension of copyright term and the European Rental Directive – on the production of movies. In a panel of 23 OECD countries, among which 19 extended copyright term at various times between 1991–2005, we found no statistically robust evidence that copyright term extension was associated with higher movie production. In a panel of 17 European countries between 1991–2005, we found no statistically robust evidence that compliance with the Rental Directive was associated with higher movie production. The extension of copyright term and European Rental Directive were particularly pertinent to the movie industry. Movies are particularly long-lived, the Rental Directive specifically addressed the movie industry, and, unlike other copyrightable products, sequential innovation is not important in movies. Hence, if major changes in copyright law had no discernable impact on movie production, it seems the case for copyright law is weak indeed.