Digital Rights in the Modern Age: Application in Libraries

Under the influence of digitalization, the legal relationship between libraries, copyright holders and users is becoming more multifaceted and complex. With the transition to digital content, libraries often no longer hold electronic works, as was the case with printed publications. An increasing number of modern publications are born-digital, meaning that hard copies, with their well-defined legal status, remain the preserve of the shrinking library services sector. Despite the reform of copyright legislation, the legal regulation and practice of library operations in the ever-changing digital environment remains dynamic. This article focuses on the recently introduced definition of digital rights in Russian legislation, its comparison with other definitions, and the reframing of the concept of digital rights for library activities in the digital age. The concept of “digital rights”, enshrined in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, creates a foundation for regulating the digital economy and paves the way for the development of other laws defining the relationships between digital objects. The differences between digital law and digital rights are highlighted, and controversial points of view are analyzed. The authors’ perspective on the digital rights of libraries in the current context is offered.

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