Computer Law Commons^™

Falling Into The Gap: The European Union's Data Protection Act And Its Impact On U.S. Law And Commerce, 18 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 981 (2000), Marie Clear

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The European Union ("E.U.") has been economically consolidating for some time, but the US appeared to feel this new composite player was relatively benign. In the past few years, though, the E.U. Has started asserting itself and setting rules in the game of international commercial gamesmanship. Until recently, the rules were limited to specific products and practices. This year, however, the E.U. changed the rules about how it would do business and, more significantly, how it would not. The E.U.'s Data Protection Directive came into force early in 2000 and presented the US with a huge dilemma: If the US …

Invasion Of The Information Snatchers: Creating Liability For Corporations With Vulnerable Computer Networks, 18 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 1019 (2000), Sarah Faulkner

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Computer hackers are a serious threat to businesses and their customers, particularly if those businesses operate complex computer networks or operate as on-line businesses. However, now that corporate telecommunication networks are becoming more sophisticated, a company's phone system may also be susceptible to invasion. These telephonic hackers, called phone phreaks (and telecom hacking itself is known as phreaking), can cause large monetary losses as well. The question of who is liable for these losses, losses that are specifically caused by illegal activity, is the subject of this comment. This comment addresses the issue of liability for monetary losses in the …

The Case For A U.S. Privacy Commissioner: A Canadian Commissioner’S Perspective, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 1 (2000), William S. Challis, Ann Cavoukian

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The demands of social democratic government, the growth of electronic commerce, and the advance of technology have fueled the debate over internet privacy. Technology offers unprecedented opportunities but can also become tools of abuse. Debate in the United States centers around the conflicting interests of industry self-control versus government regulation. Technological and market-based solutions are ineffective because they lead to inadequate and inconsistent protection. Many user-driven privacy choices can impede the growth of consumer trust. Voluntarily adopted privacy policies are either extremely limited or easily circumvented with tracking technology that allows no consumer control over the collection of their personal …

Regulating The Free Flow Of Information: A Privacy Czar As The Ultimate Big Brother, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 37 (2000), Jonathan M. Winer

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The free flow if information is critical to open society. In the United States, the tradition of open information provides the intellectual oxygen for the development American freedom, knowledge, technology, and commerce. In contrast to the right to communicate and obtain information, privacy is not an established right in the United States, except with respect to physical trespass by the government and reproductive freedom. A federal privacy czar would necessarily limit the unauthorized collection, use, and dissemination of personal information. Privacy czars invariably become privacy advocates and take active stances to discourage the free flow of information about persons and …

Recent Developments In Private Sector Personal Data Protection In Australia: Will There Be An Upside Down Under, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 71 (2000), Paul Kelly

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Although the United States enacted the one of the first data protection laws, many Americans are suspicious of European data protection regulations. The U.S. and Japan are notable exceptions to the modern trend toward comprehensive informational privacy regulation. European data protection laws are stricter, more comprehensive, and more bureaucratic than non-European counterparts. Newer regulatory models, such as those introduced in Australia, provide an acceptable compromise between the American self-regulatory approach and the comprehensive European approach. Australia has a federal agency responsible for administering its information privacy laws and is moving towards a co-regulatory approach between government and the private sector.

Protecting Individual On-Line Privacy Rights: Making The Case For A Separately Dedicated, Independent Regulatory Agency, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 93 (2000), Jack Karnes

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Few issues have caused more legal consternation than the level to which individual online privacy rights should be protected. Modern equipment and software enables those who seek to violate privacy rights render a less knowledgeable citizen helpless. Traditional privacy protection is inadequate to protect a fundamental right. Neither Congress nor the courts have dealt with the issue in an effective manner like they have dealt with other areas like telephone and wireless phone communications. The online privacy dilemma is reaching a crisis point. Employers are able to monitor employees’ uses of equipment to prevent any and all personal uses of …

The De Facto Federal Privacy Commission, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 109 (2000), Steven Hetcher

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The United States is well on its way to having a federal agency that regulates online privacy. In the last five years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has assumed increasing jurisdiction over online privacy. The FTC’s true intent to regulate online privacy became evident when it recommended that Congress enact legislation to strengthen its growing power to regulate internet privacy. The FTC uses threats of administrative enforcement actions to guide industry self-regulation through the use of unfair trade practices actions. The FTC acts because consumers feel entitled to data privacy and promotes Web site privacy practices through education and attempts …

Toward An Architecture Of Privacy For The Virtual World, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 151 (2000), Paul Toscano

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The internet is expanding. As users become more computer literate, the world becomes more reliant on the virtual one. The internet and wireless communications have fostered global commerce on an unprecedented scale. Because it lacks boundaries, cyberspace is difficult for regulate with traditional methods of governance. Security, privacy, and integrity of information are thus available to only a minority of users in restricted communities. Outside, users are on their own or must rely on the partial solutions available to them. To date, there is no consensus on what security, privacy, and integrity of information really mean. The internet needs a …

The Establishment Of A U.S. Federal Data Protection Agency To Define And Regulate Internet Privacy And Its Impact On Us-China Relations: Marco Polo, Where Are You?, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 169 (2000), Omar Saleem

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The desire to explore new worlds and to exchange ideas and goods should be the impetus behind the Internet, the virtual Silk Road connecting the east and west. The Chinese government considers the Internet a vital part of its modernization plans. There are millions of Chinese citizens online and that number continues to grow. China’s policy towards online privacy regulation will have a significant impact on the rest of the world. Technology has outpaced law in the arena of privacy regulation. Some scholars believe the Internet should be unregulated. Others fear that commerce will overrun privacy concerns. The sheer volume …

Database Nation: Does Information Technology Of The 21st Century Pose A Daunting Threat To Personal Privacy In America, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 197 (2000), Robert S. Gurwin, Nicole D. Milos

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In this book review of Simon Garfinkel's "Database Nation: The death of privacy in the 21st century," the author echoes George Orwell's prophetic vision of a totalitarian government prying on citizens' privacy in "1984." However, Database Nation presents a future where privacy has become a costly commodity: individuals fight dearly to hold such privacy from prying eyes. From the history of information age to advocating privacy protection legislations, the author discusses how Garfinkel pieces together the forming of the database nation. From health care providers to credit bureaus and from satellite surveillance to consumer purchasing habits, Garfinkel urges readers to …

2000 John Marshall National Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Bench Memorandum, 19 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 207 (2000), Robert S. Gurwin

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In this bench memo, the high court is asked to decide two issues: whether the information disseminated by defendant invaded plaintiff's privacy as defined by the Restatement (Second) of Torts governing public disclosure of private facts; and whether defendant's use of cookie technology to gather the information displayed about plaintiff constituted an invasion of her privacy. Defendant provides a commercial online job search services that provides employment assistance to online users. In return of the free service, users are required to create a "profile" with personal identifying information such as name, phone number, address and e-mail. At the bottom of …

The Electronic Self-Help Provisions Of Ucita: A Virtual Repo Man?, 33 J. Marshall L. Rev. 663 (2000), Craig Dolly

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Anticipating Technology: A Statute Bytes The Dust In Recording Industry Ass'n Of America V. Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., Stephanie Skasko Rosenberg

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Principles Of Internet Privacy, Fred H. Cate

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The definition of privacy developed by Brandeis and Warren and Prosser, and effectively codified by Alan Westin in 1967 - the claim of individuals, groups, or institutions to determine for themselves when, how, and to what extent information about them is communicated to others - worked well in a world in which most privacy concerns involved physical intrusions (usually by the government) or public disclosures (usually by the media), which, by their very nature, were comparatively rare and usually discovered.

But that definition's exclusive focus on individual control has grown incomplete in a world in which most privacy concerns involve …

The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (Ucita): Still Not Ready For Prime Time, James S. Heller

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

In July, 1999, the General Counsels, Vice Presidents, and other senior officers of major information industry technology companies (including Adobe Systems, Intuit, Silver Platter, Lotus, and Microsoft) wrote to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) urging adoption of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) at the then imminent NCCUSL meeting in Denver. The executives supported the adoption of UCITA because it is true to three commercial principles: commerce should be free to flourish in the electronic age, rules should support use of new (in this case electronic) technologies, and marketplace forces should determine the form …

From The Back Office To The Front Lines Oss: Potential Land Mines On The Front Lines, Mark A. Keffer

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 struck a bargain that allowed Bell Atlantic and the other Regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs") to gain entry into the long distance business by opening their monopoly local exchange markets to meaningful competition. A key aspect of the market-opening process is that the RBOCs, as well as generally all Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers ("ILECs") are required to provide new Competitive Local Exchange Carriers ("CLECs") access to the Operations Support Systems ("OSS"). The incumbents use OSS to serve their customers at quality levels equal to what the incumbent provides to itself.

The Y2k Problem: Proposed Statute To Guide Triers Of Fact In Determinations Of Negligence, William D. Horgan

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Following the coming new year, the Y2K Problem will create problems worldwide. While the exact extent of its harm is open to debate, there is no disagreement over its inevitability. In fact, some computer-related companies (including the makers of Norton Anti-Virus and Quicken for Windows have already been sued for damages arising from allegedly non-Y2K-compliant products. While various actors at all levels of business and government will be subject to legal liability for such malfunctions, this article will examine the legal liability of software producers and engineers under current remedial theories. Software manufacturers are a logical choice for this examination …

First Amendment Freedoms And The Encryption Export Battle: Deciphering The Importance Of Bernstein V. United States Department Of Justice, 176 F.3d 1132 (9th Cir. 1999), David Mcclure

Scholarly Works

For many years, a battle has raged over export restrictions on strong encryption products. Encryption ensures confidential and secure communications among individuals, and the Commerce Department and the State Department have long restricted its export because of national security concerns. Industry and privacy groups have fought against the restrictions for various reasons, ranging from the desire to sell encryption software in new markets to preventing government from accessing personal communications between individuals. Daniel Bernstein, a computer science graduate student, challenged these restrictions in 1996, placing himself in the center of this ongoing battle. In 1999, the Ninth Circuit Court of …

Computer Network Trespasses: Solving New Problems With Old Solutions, Susan M. Ballantine

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Allocating Discovery Costs In The Computer Age: Deciding Who Should Bear The Costs Of Discovery Of Electronically Stored Data, Corinne L. Giacobbe

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Going Private: Technology, Due Process, And Internet Dispute Resolution, Elizabeth G. Thornburg

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Despite cliches about Internet speed, disputes that arise on and about the Internet can be time-consuming to resolve, legally murky, and factually complex. In response, Internet players with market power are opting out: mandatory arbitration is replacing both substantive law and court procedure, and technological remedies are providing self-help without any dispute resolution at all. These alternative procedures tend to move faster than courts and to cost their corporate creators less than lawsuits. They are also structured to maximize the success of the powerful. But faster is not always better. Cheap is not always fair or accurate. Market power is …

In Rem Jurisdiction In Cyberspace, Thomas R. Lee

Washington Law Review

"Cyberpirates" incorporating variations on famous trademarks in Internet domain names often attempt to insulate themselves from service of process by providing false and incomplete information in registration materials. Holders of prominent trademarks are often left without an effective remedy because of the logistical difficulty of identifying cyberpirates and personally serving a multitude of complaints in far-flung jurisdictions. This Article examines a potential solution to the problem, whereby the trademark holder files an in rem action against the Internet domain names themselves on the theory that domain names incorporating their famous trademarks violate the Lanham Act and are subject to cancellation …

The Establishment Of A U.S. Federal Data Protection Agency To Define And Regulate Internet Privacy And Its Impact On U.S.-China Relations: Marco Polo Where Are You?, Omar Saleem

Journal Publications

Marco Polo's desire to explore new worlds and exchange both ideas and goods should be the impetus behind the Internet. The Internet is the global economic network of the new millennium. This Article first discusses the factors that have caused both the reevaluation of Western notions of privacy, and consideration of the establishment of a Federal Data Protections Agency. Next, the article discusses the EU's approach to regulating Internet privacy. This section is followed by a discussion of why the U.S. and EU approaches to Internet privacy regulation must be implemented from a global, or MarcoPolo-like perspective. The article then …

Software As Discourse: The Power Of Intellectual Property In Digital Architecture, Brian F. Fitzgerald

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

As software increasingly facilitates our living, we are drawn more and more to conceptualize software as discourse. While this may sound trite, it is a fundamental point to appreciate.

One of the most significant intellectual developments of the latter part of the twentieth century has been the poststrucoturalist writing of thinkers like Foucault, Derrida, and Baudril-lard, who explain the multitude of power relationships we experience in our daily lives, the indeterminacy of law, the construction of meaning, and the role of language, or discourse, in the construction of meaning and identity. According to the post-structuralists, we live in an environment …

Ucita: The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act, Michael J. Lockerby

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

From the heated rhetoric of both proponents and opponents of UCITA, one would think that UCITA represented a radical change from current law. From the standpoint of this practitioner, however, UCITA represents more of an evolutionary than a revolutionary change in the law. In at least three critical areas, the enforceability of "paperless contracts," dispute resolution, and "self-help" remedies, UCITA is arguably consistent with current law or at least the trend of current law. Indeed, the main inconsistency between UCITA and current law is that current law is at times inconsistent. From the standpoint of most businesses, certainty is preferable …

Securities Disclosure Regime - Challenges Posed By The Internet And Technology, Thomas Thomas Thoppil

LLM Theses and Essays

This thesis is an effort to evaluate the structural changes that have taken place in the securities market of the United States and its impact on securities disclosure regime mandated by the Federal Securities Act. Part 2 of the thesis discusses the securities disclosure regime and its underlying economic theories. This part also traces the challenges posed by technology and takes a quick look at the argument that the traditional norms are incompatible in dealing with those challenges. Part 3 deals primarily with structural developments in the securities market over the past five years by examining some of the innovative …

Squeezing Cyberspace Into International Shoe: When Should Courts Exercise Personal Jurisdiction Over Noncommercial Online Speech, Katherine Neikirk

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Shrinkwrap And Clickwrap Agreements: 2b Or Not 2b?, Garry L. Founds

Federal Communications Law Journal

Several problems plague typical mass-market software licensing agreement, specifically that the public is powerless to negotiate and the terms often are perceived as exceedingly broad and restrictive. The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act is designed to remedy those problems and establish the general enforceability of such agreements, with certain qualifications related to unconscionability, assent, and other caveats. UCITA, however, does not resolve, or even purport to resolve, the tension between federal copyright law and state contract law. This Note analyzes UCITA's attempt to resolve the enforceability issue; argues for an approach to preemption that promotes clarity and preserves the objectives …

One Trillion Dollars? An Analysis Ofy2k Employment Implications For Attorneys, David M. Kono

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Useful Arts In The Information Age, Alan L. Durham

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.