Postgraduate Course: Electronic Commerce Law (LAWS11313)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course aims to provide the student with an in-depth look at the legal issues surrounding electronic commerce, including business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), and consumer to consumer (C2C) forms. It will review (a) traditional legal issues surrounding business in an electronic format, particularly the formal validity of electronic transactions, security and authentication, contract formation and electronic payment systems; (b) online consumer protection issues, the impact of online advertising and marketing and online fraud; (c), challenges and strategies relating to disputes, such as online dispute resolution and jurisdiction, including the role of the WTO; and (d) selected contemporary legal topics such as virtual worlds. |
| Course description |
1. Introduction to electronic commerce:-
a) E-commerce as a sector
b) Approaching IT law (especially if students have not taken IT courses before)
c) Key sources, e.g. Electronic Commerce Directive
2. Jurisdiction:-
a) US Internet jurisdiction cases
b) Technology and the Brussels Regulation
c) Current debates e.g. libel reform
3. Contracts:-
a) UNCITRAL and EU perspectives on electronic contracts
b) Formation
c) Incorporation (clickwrap etc)
4. Signatures:-
a) Writing requirements
b) Directive on Signatures
c) Encryption and authentication
5. Consumers:-
a) Consumer Rights Directive (distance selling etc)
b) Goods, services ¿ and digital content?
c) Marketing and advertising
6. Finance:-
a) E-money, e-payments, m-payments
b) Taxation
c) Online gambling
7. Fraud and security:-
a) Definitions
b) The promotion of ¿trust¿
c) Criminal law
8. Emerging platforms:-
a) Virtual worlds
b) Mobile and smartphone
9. Online dispute resolution
10. Proposed international instruments
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Please contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk |
| Additional Costs | Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Please contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 40,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One essay of up to 4,000 words (60%); one individual assignment (20%); contribution to weekly online discussions throughout the semester (20%). Requirements for all module assessment will be outlined to students within the individual modules at the start of each semester. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Students should be familiar with basic principles, concepts and perspectives in respect of e-commerce.
2. Students should have formed critical views on the law of e-commerce and its development, including the case for or against a greater degree of international harmonisation.
3. Students should have evaluated and critically assessed the impact of the principles considered on individuals and businesses, from academic, practical and technological perspectives.
4. Students should have formed a critical view on the possible divergence and convergence of e-commerce with other areas of business.
5. Students should be able to express and defend these views in oral discussion and in writing.
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Daithi Mac Sithigh
Tel: (0131 6)50 9510
Email: Daithi.Mac.Sithigh@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Douglas Thompson
Tel: (0131 6)50 2022
Email: D.Thompson@ed.ac.uk |
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