Mutual Support of Copyright and Freedom of Expression

At first glance it may seem there is no mutual supportive relationship between copyright or rights of the authors of literary and artistic works, on one hand, and freedom of expression on the other. On deeper analysis, however, there are areas of such mutual support. This article attempts to examine these areas. The author is of the opinion that copyright and freedom of expression help and support each other in various ways. Copyright contributes to increase the production of literary and artistic works through granting exclusive rights to the authors and in so doing, creates a marketplace of ideas and information to be available to those who intend to exercise freedom of expression and thus allows them to have access to a variety of ideas and information in order to form their own points of views and express them. On the other hand, copyright empowers the community of authors and helps free them from being dependent on the state. Freedom of expression, in its turn, creates suitable environment for flourishing creative activities and removes the shadow of censorship and undue prosecution. In examining the issue, the article first deals with some key points in copyright and freedom of expression and then explores the ways of mutual support.