Computer Law Commons^™

The “Cost” Of Securing Domestic Air Travel, 21 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 405 (2003), Eric J. Miller

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This comment explores the security measures utilized for airline travel. Early airport security is compared to post 911 airport security. Various traveler search methods are analyzed against the backdrop of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. Included is an analysis of effectiveness, legality, and policy considerations of current security measures. Finally, the author proposes alternative security measures addressing the effectiveness, legality and policy considerations of such proposed solutions.

Expanding The Dmca: The Importance Of Regulating Computer Code, 21 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 575 (2003), Luke Antonsen

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

No abstract provided.

Online Collaborative Media And Political Economy Of Information: A Case Study, 21 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 515 (2003), Caio M. S. Pereira Neto

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

No abstract provided.

Locked Out: The New Hazards Of Reverse Engineering, 21 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 601 (2003), Carla Meninsky

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In this article, Meninsky contends the technological practice of reverse engineering of replacements parts and other interoperable products, which has been used to circumvent digital locks and otherwise gain access to copyrighted material and information protected as trade secrets, has been upheld by courts as fair use. This practice is discussed within the context of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (“DMCA”), which prohibits methods employed to “circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a copyrighted work” while providing a limited exemption for reverse engineers in certain circumstances. Meninsky finds that the DMCA, in effect, thwarts competition, stunts technological …

Are You Content With The Content? Intellectual Property Implications Of Weblog Publishing, 21 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 439 (2003), Attiya Malik

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The publicity about weblogs has neglected to warn against the risks of legal liability. Whether you want to impart words of wisdom or copy something that caught your interest, the temptation to "borrow" is too great and too easy in Cyberspace. Whereas the typical Internet user may have heard of "copyright" or "trademark," they are unaware of the complexities and nuances of these areas of law. The legal tests and standards may be too sophisticated for the average user. Even practitioners and courts are grappling with what legal standards and interpretations are to be applied in Cyberspace, thus, leading to …

Spam Legislation In The United States, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 3 (2003), David E. Sorkin

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article examines the effect of spam legislation in the United States. It discusses state legislation and the common provisions of state spam legislation, such as disclosure and labeling requirements and opt-out provisions. It also analyzes the consequences of state anti-spam legislation. Federal legislation is analyzed, with a brief look at the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. The article concludes that legislation has not had a big impact on spam, and the CAN-SPAM Act is not likely to change or curb spam.

The Do-Not-Call Registry Model Is Not The Answer To Spam, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 79 (2003), Richard C. Balough

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article discusses why a system to combat unwanted Internet spam, or junk e-mail, should not be modeled after the Do-Not-Call registry developed to curtail telemarketing phone calls. The Do-Not-Call registry is an "opt-out" system where consumers must place their phone numbers on a list that designates them as consumers unwilling to accept telemarketing calls. In the Internet spam context, this article argues that to force Internet users to place their e-mail addresses on a similar do-not-spam list could lead to potential problems. For example, if a would-be spammer was to get a hold of that list, she or he …

After Can-Spam, How States Can Stay Relevant In The Fight Against Unwanted Messages:How A Children's Protection Registry Can Be Effective And Is Not Preempted, Under The New Federal Anti-Spam Law, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 29 (2003), Matthew B. Prince

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The recipe for success to combat unsolicited and unwanted e-mail, otherwise known as spam, has not yet been formulated by the thirty-six states that have tried by enacting their own versions of anti-spam laws. Only two state prosecutions were ever successfully brought against spammers, and only one was able to enforce its law against an out-of-state spammer. Now, on the federal level, with the passing of the CAN-SPAM act, which essentially rehashes what states have attempted to do, the failure to provide any significant measure of national success against spam seems likely. However, a careful reading of the language of …

A Further Darkside To Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail? An Assessment Of Potential Employer Liability For Spam E-Mail, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 179 (2003), Ben Dahl

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article looks at employer liability for pornographic spam in the workplace. It begins with an analysis of the risks and unique problems posed by employees’ Internet use while at work. The article makes note of some trouble areas where employers may be held vicariously liable for sexual harassment. It is suggested that employers protect themselves by taking steps to: 1) reduce the prevalence of unsolicited commercial e-mail in the workplace; 2) mute the potential harm of offensive e-mail; and 3) create a paper trail indicating diligence in the fight to protect employees. Employers may reach these goals by the …

Spam And Beyond: Freedom, Efficiency, And The Regulation Of E-Mail Advertising, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 141 (2003), Richard Warner

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Traditional forms of mailing advertisers bear the full cost of delivering advertisements to consumers. However, this is not true in the form of all e-mail advertisement, spam or not. E-mail users subsidize part of any e-mail advertisement, thereby splitting costs between advertiser and the consumer who receives the e-mail advertisement. This article takes the position that the subsidization that occurs in e-mail advertisement should be eliminated because it unjustifiably violates individual freedom. The article discusses why the delivery charges between sender and recipient are divided, why such cost-division violates freedom, and whether the violation is justified. The article also defines …

Wireless Spam This Way Comes: An Analysis Of The Spread Of Wireless Spam And The Present And Proposed Measures Taken To Stop It, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 229 (2003), Bridget O'Neill

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Spam in the form of unsolicited unwanted e-mail is already a recognized concern in the United States. However, a different type of spam, wireless spam, is starting to make its way to the United States. Wireless spam targets items cell phones with text messaging capabilities, pagers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). These devices tend to be heavily relied on by their respective owners who bring these devices wherever they go, so to receive wireless spam represents a greater level of privacy intrusion. This article analyzes the various legislative measures that have been considered to regulate spam. It recognizes that most …

Spamming For Legal Services: A Constitutional Right Within A Regulatory Quagmire, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 97 (2003), William E. Hornsby, Jr.

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article addresses the regulatory schemes applied to lawyers who advertise their legal services to consumers through electronic communications. Concerns have arisen about lawyers using electronic communications to offer their services to their targeted communities. Since the Supreme Court’s 1977 decision in Bates, lawyers have been able to advertise their services without state permission. However, states have imposed ethical regulations in an effort to ensure that lawyers do not over reach their boundaries during such advertising efforts. The question is raised as to whether states’ spam rules also apply to lawyers who choose to advertise over the Internet. This article …

Examination Of The Model Rules Of Professional Conduct Pertaining To The Marketing Of Legal Services In Cyberspace, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 113 (2003), Matthew T. Rollins

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Advancements in technology have allowed lawyers to reach new and bigger audiences. As a result, the American Bar Association (ABA) modified the Model Rules of Professional Conduct to provide a guideline lawyers can follow regarding the propriety of marketing their legal services over the Internet. This article examines the changes in the Model Rules and the effects of these changes on lawyers advertising their legal services on the Internet. Also discussed are the issues of whether anti-spam laws are binding on lawyers and whether it is proper for lawyers to advertise over the Internet. The ban on chat room solicitation …

Vendor Liability For Advertising In Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 137 (2003), Anne P. Mitchell

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article discusses whether vendors should be held liable for spam. Vendors are those companies whose products or services are being peddled in spam advertising. Yet, vendors disclaim responsibility for the issuance of spam because they were not the ones who actually sent the spam in the first place. This article takes the stance that because vendors contribute and or benefit from the wrongful acts of the actual spammers, vendors should not be able to escape liability by blaming the primary actors, the spammers. Further, if vendors were to be held liable for spam, they would be an easier entity …

2003 John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Brief For The Petitioner, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 261 (2003), Abby K. Lill, Leopold E. Wetula, Nathan J. Wills

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

No abstract provided.

Where's The Beef? Dissecting Spam's Purported Harms, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 13 (2003), Eric Goldman

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article seeks to identify areas that truly require legislative intervention by examining the harms purportedly caused by spam. Identifying exactly what constitutes spam is an imprecise task since one e-mail may be junk to one and an important e-mail to another. The article attempts to analyze why consumers feel strongly against spam. This reaction is compared to consumers’ comparatively tolerant reaction to other unwanted advertisement in different mediums, such as billboards or magazine advertisements. Several factors are considered, such as the waste of time associated with sorting spam, the loss of consumers’ control over their in-boxes, and the annoyance …

2003 John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Brief For The Respondent, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 335 (2003), Steven Anderson, Chad Edgington, Shannon Goss

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

No abstract provided.

Intel V. Hamidi: Spam As A Trespass To Chattels - Deconstruction Of A Private Right Of Action In California, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 205 (2003), J. Brian Beckham

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This casenote analyzes and critiques the decision reached by the California Supreme Court in Intel v. Hamidi. Intel v. Hamidi runs contrary to other cases that have found a cause of action for trespass to chattels where harm was caused by unwanted electronic communications: Thrifty-Tel, Inc. v. Benezek, eBay v. Bidder’s Edge, and CompuServe v. Cyber Promotions. The California Supreme Court in Intel v. Hamidi suggested other causes of action Intel could have brought instead of trespass to chattels. The casenote looks at each proffered alternative and concludes that none of the alternatives were feasible and that Intel should have …

2003 John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Bench Memorandum, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 247 (2003), Terry Fernbach

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

No abstract provided.

2003 John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Brief For The Petitioner, 22 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 301 (2003), Daniel Crespo, Ryan Levine, Brian Walters

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

No abstract provided.

Harnessing Information Technology To Improve The Environmental Impact Review Process, Michael B. Gerrard, Michael Herz

Faculty Scholarship

In 1970, when the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted, the new and exciting information management technologies were the handheld four-function calculator and the eight-track tape cassette. Three decades later, after the personal computer, the digital revolution, and the World Wide Web, the implementation of NEPA is still stuck in the world of 1970. Other aspects of the bureaucracy have seen reform-the E-Government Strategy, an E-Government Act, the creation of a new Office of Electronic Government within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and, to focus on the environmental arena, the breathtaking success of the web-based Toxic Release …

Qui Détient Les Droits D'Auteur Sur Les Diverses Productions Des Professeurs D'Université?, René Pépin

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

L’utilisation des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication (NTIC) peut prendre un grand nombre de formes. On peut donner l’exemple, déjà appliqué à certains endroits, où le professeur, en plus de dispenser son enseignement dans un local de cours, place le contenu intégral de son cours sur un serveur de la faculté ou de l’université, avec un genre de babillard électronique dans lequel les étudiants peuvent lui poser des questions, lire ses réponses, ou discuter entre eux de différents sujets. Les étudiants peuvent aussi le contacter par téléphone ou par courriel. La technologie facilite également l’enregistrement des cours …

The Internet Direct Public Offering: Establishing Trust In A Disintermediated Capital Market, Jason Trainor

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

Whereas the process of financial intermediation was once human capital and relationship intensive, it is now heavily influenced by technological innovation and consumer demand, factors which have tended to disrupt the monopoly power of financial intermediaries. Technological innovation alone, however, is not sufficient to replace the institutions and actors that previously dominated the market for public offerings; rather, the concept of disintermediation by definition creates a vacuum that must be filled. Law firms and other intermediaries can create additional value for their clients by assuming some or all of the tasks currently apportioned to investment bankers in the public offering …

Reducing Inconsistency In Udrp Cases, David Wotherspoon, Alex Cameron

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The UDRP has proven to be an effective means of resolving domain name disputes. There are, however, a number of shortcomings in the UDRP that affect its legitimacy and fairness. The most glaring of these lies in the failure to delineate the elements outlined in section 4(a) of the UDRP and in the application of Rule 15(a) of the Rules for Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the ‘‘Rules’’).4 These shortcomings have resulted in inconsistency in the decisions of arbitral panels. As it stands, complainants are unable to ascertain the case they must meet in order to succeed and respondents are …

Information Technology Transactions: Business, Management And Legal Strategies By Dunca Card (Toronto: Carswell, 2002), Michael E. Deturbide

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

Although a number of Canadian books have appeared over the past few years addressing the legal issues that have arisen with the explosion in information technology, few have highlighted the practical implica- tions that these legal issues have in technology transac- tions. Duncan Card’s new book, Information Tech- nology Transactions: Business, Management and Legal Strategies, tackles these issues from a practical perspective that will be useful, as the title suggests, to both lawyers and management.

Cross Border E-Commerce And The Gst/Hst: Towards International Consensus Or Divergence?, Keith R. Evans

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

In February 2001, the OECD issued a draft report on ‘‘Consumption Tax Aspects of Electronic Commerce’’. The purpose of this report was to seek comments on Working Party No. 9’s conclusions and recommendations in respect of the approach to be taken on the application of consumption taxes to e-commerce in light of the Ottawa Taxation Framework Conditions. The 1998 Conditions called for the taxation principles that applied to traditional commerce to be the guide for the taxation of e-commerce, to ensure non-discriminatory tax treatment of electronic commerce transactions. In November 2001, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (‘‘CCRA’’) issued its …

Fragmented Copyright, Fragmented Management: Proposals To Defrag Copyright Management, Daniel Gervais, Alana Maurushat

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The collective management of copyright in Canada was conceived as a solution to alleviate the problem of inefficiency of individual rights management. Creators could not license, collect and enforce copyright efficiently on an individual basis. Requiring users to obtain permission from individual copyright holders for the use of a work was equally inefficient. Collectives, therefore, emerged to facilitate the clearance of rights between creators and users. Even with the facilitation of collectives in the process, clearing rights remains an inherently difficult and convoluted process. This is especially so in the age of the Internet where clearing rights for multimedia products …

Technology Law, J. Douglas Cuthbertson, Glen L. Gross

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Personal Information Protection And Electronic Documents Act: A Comprehensive Guide By William Charnetski, Patrick Flaherty And Jeremy Robinson (Toronto Canada Law Book Inc., 2001), Teresa Scassa

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act: A Comprehensive Guide (the Guide) is the second book to be published in English in Canada dealing expressly with the Personal Information Protec- tion and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The Guide is different from the earlier work, in that it is not a section by section discussion or annotation of the provisions of PIPEDA. Rather, it is organized into eight chapters, each addressing a distinct theme or topic. The Guide is also aimed at a more professional audience than the earlier work. In its introduction, and in its choice of content, it …

Solving Legal Issues In Electronic Government: Jurisdiction, Regulation, Governance, John D. Gregory

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This paper looks at who can be governed, what can be governed, and how it can be governed in an electronic world. Whether law aims to be enabling (i.e., confirming the ground rules and the legal effectiveness of general conduct) or normative (i.e., imposing standards of conduct on more or less willing subjects), the new media presents difficulties for its rational evolution.

These are distinct questions from those raised by government online. Electronic service delivery issues tend to focus on how government can carry on its traditional programs using electronic means and how the law can support it in doing …