The legal challenges of information technologies (P02581)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LAW-P-LW0042

This module aims to deliver a challenging perspective on the wide range of legal questions posed by information technologies as they continue to develop; and to provide students with a fresh perspective on law and technologies and an appreciation of the extent to which legal questions must be viewed broadly.

The module will explore different approaches to regulation, providing a platform for analysis of the wide-ranging legal fields which are relevant. The module will then consider the ongoing relevance of intellectual property to new technologies: peer generated content and downloading are taken as examples, and we will then explore the extent to which intellectual property might be sidelined by DRM and anti-circumvention technologies. The historical and present position in respect of domain names will be considered, together with the relationship between domain names and internet governance. Potential for civil and criminal liability - from users to creators to service providers – will be then considered, for example in respect of defamation, pornography and terrorism, together with the extent to which these issues can properly be considered by decision makers in different jurisdictions, both real and virtual. Finally, the module will consider the impact on evolving information technologies of competition law and different forms of standardisation (with particular reference to, at present, Microsoft, Apple and Google), and of human rights (with particular reference to the digital divide).

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Law, (School of Law, Schedule F)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
15/01/2009	11:10	13:00	Moot Court Room, Old College	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

This course will

-explore the wide and disparate range of legal principles relevant to information technologies;
-investigate the extent to which existing theories of and approaches to regulation of information technologies are effective; and
-assess the ongoing role of law in this field, in conjunction with the greater use of technological means control

By the end of this course students should be able to:

-form a view on the legal principles and perspectives which are relevant to information technologies;
-evaluate the extent to which legal and political development takes these principles into account;
-identify future areas for legal development; and
-critically assess the arguments of different interest groups in respect of the role of law in information technologies