UNSW Handbook Course - Information Technology Law

Information Technology Law - LAWS1031


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: Faculty of Law
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 8
	EFTSL: 0.16667 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 4
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: LAWS1001, LAWS1011; or LAWS1610; Corequisite: LAWS2311 or LAWS1010.
	Fee Band: 3 (more info)
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

The general subject matter of the course is how law deals with the use of information technology,with a specific focus on computer networks, or 'cyberspace' (of which the Internet is the largest and best-known component). The legal content is based on domestic law (Australia and New South Wales), but the international nature of cyberspace requires a consistently broader view as well.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Prior computing experience or knowledge is not required for this course, except that students will have to acquire the necessary skills to use the subject’s internet resources - ie use of e-mail and use of the world-wide-web. Students should obtain their own e-mail account before the course starts.

Course Objectives

The objectives of the course are:

To examine whether and to what extent computing and data communications technologies are giving rise to a distinctive new field of law (increasingly called 'cyberspace law') and to attempt to identify the subject matter, legal concepts and analytic techniques particular to such a field
To provide a reasonably comprehensive survey of the main aspects of existing law which have arisen (or changed) because of these new technologies, or are made problematic by them
To facilitate an understanding of the interaction between the overall legal and social contexts of cyberspace, as it gains increasing economic, cultural and social importance

Main Topics

Topics covered include:

Online aspects of internet governance
Trademarks and domain names
Censorship and content regulation
Privacy, copyright and patents
e-Commerce issues
Cybercrime
Security and trust
Jurisdiction and conflict of laws

Assessment

Research essay (50%)
End-of-session take-home problem assignment (50%)

Course Texts

Prescribed
There is no prescribed text. Specific internet-based resources will be presented in class.

Recommended

Lim, Yee Fen, Cyberspace Law – Commentaries and Materials, 2nd Edition
Lawrence Lessig, Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace, Ed 1: ISBN 046503912X, Basic Books 1999; Ed 2: http://codebook.jot.com/WikiHome
Lawrence Lessig, Free Culture, ISBN 1594200068, The Penguin Press 2004 http://www.free-culture.cc/freecontent/

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.