Information Technology Law (Distance Learning) (P01141)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LAW-P-P01141

This course responds to the immense impact computers and the Internet have had, and are having, on substantive law. 'Computer law' has developed since the Seventies from a patchwork of applications of ordinary rules of contract, criminal, and commercial law, to what is largely accepted to be a rapidly growing specialist cognate discipline. It has now expanded to embrace the "new" field of the legal regulation of the Internet.

This course will examine the legal ramifications of computerisation and of the Internet, including topics such as e-commerce, jurisdiction and dispute resolution, intellectual property in software and hardware, privacy, content liability, censorship and human rights, competition and standardisation on the Internet, computer crime, and virtual law.

Themes relevant throughout the course will be discussed such as globalisation, enforcement, regulatory forms (including self-regulation and soft law) and the competing lobbies for consumers, corporations, industry players, rights-holders and cyber-libertarians. A further focus will be the extent and need for interaction between themes and legal fields.

Sources will be drawn from the legal systems of Scotland, England, the UK, the US, the EC and Australia.

Entry Requirements

? Costs : Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet. Print consumables (paper and ink) would be recommended to provide hard copy of some on screen text and materials (e.g. articles).

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

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The aims of this module are to:

- Explore the wealth of legal issues associated with computer hardware and software, the Internet and the computer industry, particularly in the light of increasing convergence of technologies and offerings, with a focus on intellectual property, competition, standards, human rights and data protection

- Consider the impact and limits of markets, community norms, technological restrictions and law, in regulation of the Internet and virtual communities

- Assess the needs of commerce and consumers, citizens and states in respect of private and public transactions on the internet, and the role which is, should and can be played by law

- Evaluate the adequacy of existing national, regional,
international and alternative means of dispute resolution and penal sanction given the cross border nature of the internet and online transactions

By the end of the module the student should be able to:

- Identify, contribute to and advance the key areas of debate, from a legal perspective, in respect of the Internet and computers

- Form a view on the relevancy and adequacy of law and alternatives in advancing these debates, including regarding enforcement and dispute resolution.

- Analyse the extent to which control over and liability in
respect of hardware, software, data and website content can have negative consequences for individuals and corporations and wider society

Assessment Information

One essay, 5000 words (60%); two pieces of assessed work (20% each).

Note: Completion of the Certificate, the Diploma and progression through the LLM programme will be subject to participation in and completion of core activities within this module.