Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2001

Internet Law

Duke Law

Articles 1 - 17 of 17

Full-Text Articles in Law

Enhanced 911 Technology And Privacy Concerns: How Has The Balance Changed Since September 11?, Aaron Futch, Christine Soares Oct 2001

Enhanced 911 Technology And Privacy Concerns: How Has The Balance Changed Since September 11?, Aaron Futch, Christine Soares

Duke Law & Technology Review

E911 technology allows for the location of a cellular phone to be determined by the wireless service provider within several hundred feet. As a consequence, privacy groups have been extremely resistant to the implementation of E911. In the wake of the September 11 tragedies, however, the balance between privacy concerns and national security seems to have changed for many American citizens. This iBrief will explore the nature of the E911 technology, the FCC implementation requirements, the concerns of privacy groups regarding its implementation, and how the environment surrounding E911 has changed since September 11.


The Internet Opens Its Doors For .Biz-Ness, Corey Ciocchetti Sep 2001

The Internet Opens Its Doors For .Biz-Ness, Corey Ciocchetti

Duke Law & Technology Review

Starting on October 1, 2001, .BIZ will become active as the Internet's newest top-level domain; its space reserved solely for businesses engaging in "bona fide" commercial activities. This space has the potential to reinvigorate, at least partly, the immense economic potential of the Internet by stimulating a multitude of e-commerce transactions so common only a few years ago. This iBreif explores the history of how and why this new top-level domain came into being. Following this history lies a discussion of the current .BIZ registration process as well as an analysis of the corresponding Intellectual Property Claims system.


Hard Lessons: Guiding America’S Approach To Third Generation Wireless Policy, Aaron Futch Sep 2001

Hard Lessons: Guiding America’S Approach To Third Generation Wireless Policy, Aaron Futch

Duke Law & Technology Review

The publicity over license auctions in Europe during 2000 created an atmosphere in which the prices that companies paid for third-generation wireless licenses received more attention than their actual plans to implement the technology. As American policymakers and corporate boardrooms consider the future of this technology here in America, it is vital that we develop a coherent and well-designed allocation process and then quickly move on to meatier problems.


Are Domain Names Property? The Sex.Com Controversy, Christine Soares Sep 2001

Are Domain Names Property? The Sex.Com Controversy, Christine Soares

Duke Law & Technology Review

Do domain names constitute tangible property? Since domain names may be purchased or transferred, the answer at first glance would appear to be "yes". Congress has also dictated that domain names corresponding closely to existing trademarks may be considered tangible property under certain circumstances. However, a recent case involving the lurid and lucrative domain name "sex.com" has determined otherwise. This iBrief examines the impact of characterizing domain names as tangible or intangible property on the causes of action available for domain name litigation.


The Music Online Competition Act Of 2001: Moderate Change Or Radical Reform?, Alexander Davie, Christine Soares Aug 2001

The Music Online Competition Act Of 2001: Moderate Change Or Radical Reform?, Alexander Davie, Christine Soares

Duke Law & Technology Review

On August 3, 2001 legislation was proposed to facilitate online broadcasting and distribution of music. The proposed Music Online Competition Act (MOCA) seeks to streamline the distribution of music over the Internet, increase competition, and avoid the monopolization of the online music industry by the record companies. This iBrief discusses several changes that MOCA would implement in the law and the reaction of the recording industry to these proposed changes.


U.S. Export Controls On Technology Transfers, Matthew Crane Aug 2001

U.S. Export Controls On Technology Transfers, Matthew Crane

Duke Law & Technology Review

Companies selling technology products abroad must be careful that they have complied with regulations imposed on the exportation of technology products. This is especially true for companies seeking to export encryption technology. This iBrief explores the considerations that must be given to the export of encryption and other technologies.


Monitoring Employee E-Mail: Efficient Workplaces Vs. Employee Privacy, Corey A. Ciocchetti Jul 2001

Monitoring Employee E-Mail: Efficient Workplaces Vs. Employee Privacy, Corey A. Ciocchetti

Duke Law & Technology Review

Employer monitoring of electronic mail constitutes an emerging area of the law that is clearly unsettled at this point in time. This iBrief demonstrates that the privacy rights of non public-sector employees are relatively unprotected by the federal and state constitutions, broad judicial interpretations of enacted privacy legislation favor legitimate employer-monitoring practices, and many of the elements of common law claims are difficult for employees to prove.


Freelance Articles And Electronic Databases: Who Owns The Copyrights?, Christine Soares Jul 2001

Freelance Articles And Electronic Databases: Who Owns The Copyrights?, Christine Soares

Duke Law & Technology Review

There has long been uncertainty as to who owns the rights to digital reproductions of freelance articles. The Supreme Court has recently affirmed that copyrights for the digital reproduction of freelance articles belong to freelance authors, rather than the periodical and electronic media publishers who included the articles in electronic databases. However, in answering this question others, such as the preservation of the historical record and future dealings with freelance writers remain to be answered. The author discusses the recent Supreme Court ruling and offers answers to questions created by it.


International Liability In Cyberspace, Matthew Crane Jul 2001

International Liability In Cyberspace, Matthew Crane

Duke Law & Technology Review

Activities in cyberspace often expose companies to "cybertorts", a species of tort particularly difficult to reconcile with standard insurance policies. The author explores some of the difficulties in obtaining coverage for cybertorts from traditional insurance policies, and makes recommendations for companies to reduce their cyberspace liability exposure.


The Complexities Of On-Line Mutual Fund Advertising: A Summary Of The Relevant Regulations, Corey Ciocchetti Jun 2001

The Complexities Of On-Line Mutual Fund Advertising: A Summary Of The Relevant Regulations, Corey Ciocchetti

Duke Law & Technology Review

As the investment marketplace advances with current technology, paper-based advertising has quickly been supplemented by on-line advertising. Interestingly, both the Securities Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers are treating this new medium similarly to the old-fashioned paper-based medium. This iBrief discusses and summarizes the current regulations surrounding one emerging form of on-line advertising - that of mutual funds. This discussion is intended to form a solid foundation from which an interested party may delve further into this emerging area of e-commerce.


Software Disclosure And Liability Under The Securities Acts, Carl C. Carl May 2001

Software Disclosure And Liability Under The Securities Acts, Carl C. Carl

Duke Law & Technology Review

Can a software company be liable under the securities laws when it sells securities without disclosing that it will not give free updates on current software as new technology makes them obsolete? What exactly must be disclosed and how does one say it without subjecting the company's business practices to close scrutiny? The Eleventh Circuit recently applied the time-honored standard of meaningful cautionary language to software companies in finding that the disclosures of a software company were enough to avoid liability under the securities laws when the company provided meaningful cautionary language in their prospectus.


Ftc Vs. Toysmart, Daniel Bronski, Conway Chen, Matthew Rosenthal, Robert Pluscec Mar 2001

Ftc Vs. Toysmart, Daniel Bronski, Conway Chen, Matthew Rosenthal, Robert Pluscec

Duke Law & Technology Review

Last summer, Toysmart agreed to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission concerning use of its customer information database. Under the terms of the settlement, the defunct Internet toy retailer was permitted to sell customer information without either providing its former customers notice or giving them an opportunity to block the sale or use of their personal information. This issue ignited a privacy-rights maelstrom, but ended anti-climatically for Toysmart; in January, Buena Vista Internet Group, a Disney subsidiary and 60% majority shareholder of Toysmart, agreed to compensate the company's creditors $50,000 for the privilege of destroying the database. U.S. Bankruptcy …


Digital Television: Has The Revolution Stalled?, Aaron Futch, Yemi Giwa, Kisa Mlela, Amy Richardson, Yelena Simonyuk Mar 2001

Digital Television: Has The Revolution Stalled?, Aaron Futch, Yemi Giwa, Kisa Mlela, Amy Richardson, Yelena Simonyuk

Duke Law & Technology Review

When digital television technology first hit the scene it garnered great excitement, with its promise of movie theater picture and sound on a fraction of the bandwidth of analog. A plan was implemented to transition from the current analog broadcasting system to a digital system effective December 23, 2006. As we reach the half point of this plan, the furor begins to die as the realities of the difficult change sink in.


An Interview With Michael Froomkin, Kathleen E. Fuller Feb 2001

An Interview With Michael Froomkin, Kathleen E. Fuller

Duke Law & Technology Review

A. Michael Froomkin is an Administrative Law and Internet Law scholar from the University of Miami School of Law and a vigorous critic of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). He is the author of a controversial new law review article, Wrong Turn in Cyberspace: Using ICANN to Route Around the APA and the Constitution, 50 DUKE L.J. 17 (Oct. 2000), available at http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/dlj/. In his new article, Professor Froomkin argues that ICANN's relationship with the Department of Commerce is illegal. We interviewed Professor Froomkin via e-mail about his new article and about other recent ICANN-related events, …


Are Online Business Transactions Executed By Electronic Signatures Legally Binding?, Carl Carl, Corey Ciocchetti, Wes Barton, Nathan Christensen Feb 2001

Are Online Business Transactions Executed By Electronic Signatures Legally Binding?, Carl Carl, Corey Ciocchetti, Wes Barton, Nathan Christensen

Duke Law & Technology Review

Most of us believe that we make contracts over the Internet all the time. We buy books and computers, arrange for hotels and planes, trade stocks, and apply for mortgages. But as recently as seven months ago that transaction was most likely not legally binding. This uncertainty led many practitioners, businesspeople, and consumers to question the efficacy of contracts executed by electronic signatures. Without a uniform standard, many jurisdictions ruled inconsistently, while other jurisdictions did not consider the issue. This disparate treatment threatened the legitimacy of online agreements and deprived both consumers and businesses of the certainty and predictability expected …


Offshore Offerings By Foreign Entities: How Far Will The Sec Reach To Regulate?, Melvina Carrick, Matthew Crane, Jennifer Hu Feb 2001

Offshore Offerings By Foreign Entities: How Far Will The Sec Reach To Regulate?, Melvina Carrick, Matthew Crane, Jennifer Hu

Duke Law & Technology Review

Many countries' regulatory regimes, including that of the United States, traditionally require registration of all investment services offers or securities sales to their citizens. Many have claimed that the Internet will make such financial regulation obsolete. With the advent of the new technology, regulatory bodies across the globe have been forced to redefine what constitutes an offer to purchase securities within their borders. They have come up with a variety of models for regulating cross-border capital flows. Even countries with similar legal traditions such as Britain, the US, and Australia have taken different approaches.


Icann: The Debate Over Governing The Internet, Kathleen E. Fuller Feb 2001

Icann: The Debate Over Governing The Internet, Kathleen E. Fuller

Duke Law & Technology Review

Since its creation, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been the subject of criticism and controversy. ICANN is a private non-profit corporation that operates under contract with the US Department of Commerce. It was created at the request of the government for the purpose of privatizing the Domain Name System (DNS), the addressing system on which the Internet depends. The creation of ICANN in 1998--what some have called cyberspace's own "constitutional moment" -- represented a substantial shift in power to control the Internet from government to private industry. Today, ICANN is facing a virtual revolt. Domain …