美國 1998 年通過之著作權存續期間延長法（ Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, CTEA），其合憲性雖在 Eldred v. Ashcroft 一案中得到法院肯定，其立法智慧卻飽受質疑。本文從 Eldred 案中 Akerlof 等經濟學家之論述出發，以經濟分析之方法探討著作權保護之社會成本，並以數位權利管理科技（ digital rights management, DRM）之發展與其可能影響為論述之重點。本文發現，對著作權獨占之絕對損失與著作授權交易成本兩大問題，理想的 DRM 科技的確可以提供一定程度的緩和效果。視著作類型、利用型態及所考慮成本之性質， DRM 帶來的幫助大小有別，但整體而言，並非吾人得以忽略。因此隨著 DRM 科技成熟，從效率的觀點反對著作權存續期間延長的基礎將日漸薄弱。然而， DRM 不旦發展前景仍未明朗，且即使是完美的 DRM 也不能完全排除著作權保護所帶給社會的成本。如果進一步考慮保障著作權人絕對控制可能引起的反動，以及反規避條款或類似立法之執行成本，則立法者在著作權存續期間之斟酌上，實應更加審慎。台灣的立法者應將美國的 CTEA 視為前車之鑑，而非效法之對象。

The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 (CTEA), while having survived a surprisingly strong constitutional challenge in Eldred v. Ashcroft, remains controversial on efficiency ground. This article seeks to provide an economic analysis of the social costs of prolonged copyright terms, taking into account the potential of digital rights management (DRM) technologies. The article suggests DRM technologies, when properly designed, may reduce the dead weight loss of copyright monopolies and the transaction costs of copyright licensing, seemingly strengthening the argument for prolonged or even perpetual copyright protection. Current DRM technologies are nevertheless far from ideal. With pervasive public disaffection, hackers working around the clock, and half-hearted backing from some heavyweight players, their future is overcast at best. Adding the cost of DRM deployment and enforcement, and the potential efficiency loss by mass consumer backlash as informed by behavioral economic analysis, it is only prudent for Taiwanese legislators to think harder on lengthening copyright terms.

著作權;著作權存續期間;經濟分析;數位權利管理

copyright; copyright terms; economic analysis; digital rights management; DRM