LAW4326 - Cyberlaw - 2018

This unit will provide an introduction to the new legal and social issues which have arisen due to the now extensive use of the internet for commerce, education and entertainment. The unit will cover issues such as jurisdiction, electronic contracting, electronic security, content regulation, intellectual property, privacy and will provide sufficient flexibility to examine any new issues as they arise.

Students successfully completing this unit should have satisfied the following:

1. To equip the students with a solid understanding of the architecture of the internet and the manner in which it functions. This knowledge will be used as the basis to understanding the difficulties of internet governance and regulation. Students will be introduced to the key bodies that make rules with respect to the structure and use of the internet. Students will also consider the nature of the evolving 'information society' including a consideration of issues related to equity and access
2. Students will acquire an understanding of the issues related to jurisdiction which affect the resolution of disputes arising out of internet transactions
3. Students will consider the problems that arise with respect to, and apply the laws relating to, electronic contracting, including consumer protection issues
4. Students will consider issues arising in respect of electronic security, such as hacking and spam. Legal responses to these problems will be discussed and analysed
5. Students will acquire knowledge of the basic intellectual property issues that arise in the internet context, including copyright issues and domain names
6. Students will consider and apply the variety of national and international laws that have been enacted and proposed to deal with issues of online privacy
7. Students will consider the ethical background to the formation of laws in this area
8. Students will improve their skills of legal research and analysis through completion of the research assignment
9. Students will improve their skills of legal analysis and argument through the completion of the examination
10. Students will improve their legal analysis, application and argument skills through completion of the weekly reading and participation in class discussion
11. Students will acquire an understanding of the international context of these issues and will acquire skills in identifying and analysing relevant international legal materials.

Written research assignment (2000 words): 40% and final written examination (2 hours plus 30 minutes reading and noting time): 60% OR final written examination (3 hours plus 30 minutes reading and noting time): 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information