Abstract
The age of global networks facilitating the distribution of digital information will mandate the international harmonization of relevant legal remedies as well as the development and deployment of technologies to make such remedies effective. This paper starts with a brief description of the recent progress for international harmonization of the copyright laws, and discusses functional requirements and various technologies for realizing electronic copyright management systems. It also outlines several systems developed in Japan, USA and Europe. Further activities are required for development and standardization to realize interoperability among the systems, payment of license fees, and other needs.
