Postgraduate - UnitLAW7213 - Law of the internet

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Notes

Synopsis

Legal issues such as copyright, defamation and censorship. The practical effects of legal regulation (or lack thereof) on the Internet. The nature of the Internet itself, how the different legal issues interrelate and how the application of different legal concepts may shape the future of the Internet.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students should have an understanding of the internet in its various guises and what legal principles affect its use and regulation, encompassing more specifically an understanding of:

1. the history and development of the Internet and the implications of technological convergence
2. the architecture and governance of the Internet
3. the applicability of traditional copyright principles to the digital environment of the internet
4. how copyright may be infringed on the internet
5. moral rights in the context of the internet
6. the laws affecting content regulation and filtering
7. privacy and security in the online context, including the issues of digital identity and authentication
8. the regulatory framework of the Internet and its the international implications.

Assessment

Research assignment (3,750 words): 50%
Take-home examination (3,750 words): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Ian Brown

Contact hours

24 contact hours per semester (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements)