Abstract
<jats:p>The transformation of copyright legislation in the European Union has accelerated in response to the new challenges of the digital age. While in the 20th century copyright was mainly protected under national legislation, in the 21st century the integration of the single market and the expansion of cross-border internet services have necessitated harmonization at the EU level. From the 2001 “Copyright in the Information Society Directive” to the 2019 DSM Directive, key legal acts have marked the stages of this transformation. Article 15 of the DSM Directive granted press publishers the right to remuneration from digital platforms, while Article 17 made online platforms such as YouTube and Facebook directly responsible for user-generated content. Furthermore, decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union, such as Infopaq and GS Media, have shaped the interpretation of copyright in the digital environment. Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems, collective management mechanisms, and anti-piracy strategies have become central instruments for the practical enforcement of copyright. At the same time, the legal status of works created by artificial intelligence, exceptions for text and data mining, and the expansion of borderless digital services will present new legal challenges in the future. The study demonstrates that the EU regards copyright not only as a tool for protecting creativity but also as a strategic instrument for ensuring the stability of the digital economy and fostering innovation</jats:p>