Final Remarks

This concluding chapter explores the advantages of implied licences not only in the offline, but especially in the online world. It sums up the justifications for the conception of ‘implied’ and ‘licence’ adopted in this monograph. It also explains how when faced with the facts and circumstances of a case, how one may ascertain which basis for implying a copyright licence might apply. While acknowledging that express words can override implied licences, it explains why it is not a significant limitation on the usefulness of implied licence, arguing that implied licence can and will continue to play a significant role in copyright law. The growing body of case law on implying a term into a contract is a testament to the fact that there are never going to be complete or comprehensive contracts. There will always be the need to fill in gaps, by way of implying licences based on the conduct of the copyright owner or to give effect to a custom or a policy. The chapter then looks at how implied licences have the potential to play a greater role after the Exit Day.