The constant flow of technological advances exacerbates the problem of copyright infringement. The most significant advance: the ability to make copies of copyrighted material. Increasingly sophisticated means of communication, both for work and entertainment purposes, have developed in the last half of this century. These advances have led to a highly profitable business in piracy. The extensive trade in counterfeit goods–music, film, video, and other items carrying well-known brand names–has cost companies lost revenues of billions of dollars each year. Though regulations such as the European Union Directives attempt to harmonize legislation in this area, the extent of copyright protection differs throughout the world, with varying requ
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