Internet Law Commons^™

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 …

Is There Judicial Recourse To Attack Spammers?, Ashley L. Rogers

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

This Note will discuss the issue of non-commercial spam through the prism of a case recently decided by the California Supreme Court, Intel v. Hamidi. Until recently there was no federal regulation for unwanted electronic communication and common law was the only potential solution. Part I of this Note will discuss the nature of spam, focusing on the distinction between commercial e-mail and bulk e-mail and the importance therein. Part II will detail the history and the legal doctrine of trespass as it applies to the Internet. Part III will summarize the case of Intel v. Hamidi as it struggled …

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

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.

Open Source, Open Arms: An Open-Ended Question, Alana Maurushat

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This paper is structured to address several aspects and challenges to the open source movement. Beginning with an outline of the historical and cultural components of the open source movement, the paper will move on to explore the economic and philosophical underpinnings of intellectual property. It will be demonstrated that open source finds itself uniquely situated within these theories and doctrines. The questions that open source poses for intellectual property will then be examined. My arguments will stem from the general premise that open source is threatened by three mechanisms: the uncertainty of the validity of open source licenses, potentially …

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 …

Global Trecs: The Regulation Of International Trade In Cyberspace, J. Steele

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This paper provides an overview of trade-related aspects of electronic commerce, and examines three approaches for regulating international trade in cyber- space. A model which integrates these approaches is then proposed, emphasizing private standards of self-regula- tion within a broader public framework of minimal background standards. A summary of potential areas of conflict between competing regulatory approaches fol- lows, and the paper concludes that both the WTO and the OECD have important roles to play in the develop- ment of international consensus towards a harmonized framework for the regulation of global TRECs.

M-Commerce: The Notion Of Consumer Consent In Receiving Location-Based Advertising, Eloïse Gratton

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

The development of location-based advertising, for all its convenience and usefulness, introduces new and heightened privacy risks for consumers that must be addressed. The portability of wireless devices and the ubiquity of their applications, coupled with an ability to pinpoint the location of wireless users and reveal it to others, could produce a system where the everyday activities and movements of these users are tracked and recorded. Wireless users would receive unanticipated advertising messages on their wireless device, commonly referred to as ‘‘wireless spam’’, generally considered a form of privacy violation.

In order to obtain a valid consent from the …

The Patriation Of .Ca, Gregory R. Hagen, Kim G. Von Arx

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

Country code top level domains (‘‘ccTLD’’s), such as .ca, are distinct from generic top-level domains (‘‘gTLD’’s), such as .com, in that they are generally conceived to be associated with a specific country. In Canada, the authority to operate the technical functions of the .ca domain name registry has been delegated to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (‘‘CIRA’’) by a United States non-profit corporation, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (‘‘ICANN’’). The authority to make policy regarding the .ca has purportedly been delegated to CIRA by the Government of Canada. There is an issue, however, as to whether ICANN’s …

The New Singapore Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy: The Context Of The Common Law And Icann's Udrp, Richard Wu

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

In this article, I will analyse the salient features of the Policy and evaluate the extent to which they match international practice. I will focus, in particular, upon the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and the rules made under the UDRP. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international body responsible for domain name management, adopted both in 1999. As the nature of domain name disputes and dispute resolution rules are very similar in different countries, domain name disputes are becoming a global phenomenon, leading to the development of a kind of ‘‘Internet common law’’. …

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 …

Corporate Cybersmear: Employers File John Doe Defamation Lawsuits Seeking The Identity Of Anonymous Employee Internet Posters, Margo E. K. Reder, Christine Neylon O'Brien

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

Communications systems are now wide open and fully accessible, with no limits in range, scope or geography. Targeted audiences are accessible with pinpoint accuracy. Messages reach millions of readers with one click. There is a chat room for everyone. Most importantly, there is no limit on content. Therefore, employees can register their dissatisfaction by posting a message in a chat room. Moreover, the identity of the posting employee is not easily discoverable due to anonymous and pseudonymous communications capabilities. The nature of these online messages is qualitatively different from real-world communications. By way of example, newspapers have a responsibility regarding …

Marking Carnivore's Territory: Rethinking Pen Registers On The Internet, Anthony E. Orr

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

"Carnivore" entered the online world's collective consciousness in June 2000 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation unveiled the Internet surveillance software program to telecommunications industry specialists. The FBI claims the program allows agents to scan the traffic of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for messages or commands to or from a criminal suspect and then intercept only those messages, capturing copies of e-mails, web site downloads and other file transfers[...] A central issue in the controversy surrounding Carnivore is whether current law permits the FBI to employ the program in the Internet context. Bureau officials claim statutory authority for deployments …

Arkansas Surfers And Their Privacy, Or Lack Thereof: Does The Common Law Invasion Of Privacy Tort Prohibit E-Tailers' Use Of "Cookies"?, Bryan T. Mckinney, Dwayne Whitten

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

Le Droit De Faire Jouer La Radio En Public, Ou La Petite Histoire D'Une Drôle D'Exemption, René Pépin

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

L’article 69 de la loi canadienne sur le droit d’auteur prévoit qu’aucun montant n’est exigible d’une personne qui utilise en public un appareil radio, pourvu que ce soit fait dans un endroit, tel un commerce ou un restaurant, où le public est invité à se rendre sans qu’il lui soit chargé un prix d’entrée. Plusieurs pays ont une disposition semblable dans leur législation en matière de droit d’auteur. Cela évite que les détenteurs de droits d’auteur sur des pièces musicales, ou les compagnies de disques, prétendent que le propriétaire de l’appareil radio se trouve à «représenter publiquement» ou à «exécuter …

Litoral: A New Form Of Defamation Consciousness, Kim Von Arx

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

With the Internet, quickly becoming ubiquitous, the question arises: how does the Internet, and more specifi- cally computer-mediated-communication (CMC), affect people’s lives?

This paper will explore CMC in the Western world as an instance of Walter J. Ong’s notion of secondary orality. It will seek to determine whether the proposed shift in communicative and social consciousness elimi- nates the need for the common law distinction between libel and slander in the online communication environ- ment. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first section, the elements of primary orality and the shift of consciousness from a primary oral …

Don't Shoot The Messenger! A Discussion Of Isp Liability, Andrew Bernstein, Rima Ramchandani

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

In today’s world of rampant networked communica- tion, the Internet Service Provider (‘‘ISP’’) finds itself in a uniquely vulnerable position. As the conduit through which content is disseminated to a numerically and geo- graphically vast audience, the obvious legal risk to ISPs is that those who provide content will do so in a way that attracts legal liability. Like many communications prov- iders (such as publishers or broadcasters), the ISP may have to assume some responsibility for simply providing the means of transmitting content. In some cases, the ISP is more actively involved in the transmission or is know- ingly …

Solving Legal Issues In Electronic Government: Authority And Authentication, John D. Gregory

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article is an overview of some of the legal themes and issues faced by governments in the electronic age, with particular regard to their own operations: electronic service delivery and the administration of government itself.

Electronic government is the performance of any function of government using electronic records and electronic communications. It may involve, in the language of the Uniform Electronic Commerce Act, ‘‘us[ing] electronic means to create, collect, receive, store, transfer, distribute, publish or otherwise deal with documents or information.’’ The term thus covers the provision of governmental services to the public, including commu- nication from the public …

Collective Management Of Copyright And Neighbouring Rights In Canada: An International Perspective, Daniel J. Gervais

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

In this paper, we will compare the current Canadian framework and activities of Collective Management Organizations with the situation in a number of other major countries and suggest possible improvements to the current regime. The comparison will focus first on the general legal background for collective management and, second, on issues specific to the digital age. The paper only addresses some of the specific issues raised by the 1996 WCT and WPPT.

Book Review: Privacy Law In Canada By Colin H.H. Mcnairn And Alexander K. Scott, Anne Mussett

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

Privacy Law in Canada is a 360-page work that broadly covers legislation at both the federal and provin- cial level, and criminal and civil liability for privacy intru- sions in the context of case law from across Canada. Particular focus is given to privacy issues associated with the workplace, personal health information, technolog- ical surveillance, and protecting consumers and debtors. The authors take a practical approach in examining chal- lenging questions, such as whether a consumer’s consent is required to obtain a credit report; disclosure of med- ical information; monitoring an employee’s computer use and voice mail; how the PIPEDA …

Big Media: Its Effect On The Marketplace Of Ideas And How To Slow The Urge To Merge, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 247 (2002), Donald R. Simon

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

"The free flow of information is the life-blood of democracy." Americans are experiencing many media corporate mergers in recent years, and one is likely to ponder whether the idea of "marketplace of ideas" still holds true. In this article, the author discusses how economically driven censorship of journalism is blinding the public by market concentration and cross-ownership of media corporations. The fears of the Founding Fathers still lurk in the background as James Madison wrote: "a popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both." …

An "Opposition" To The Recently-Proposed Legislation Related To Business Model Patents, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 397 (2002), Gregory J. Maier, Thomas J. Fisher, Philippe J. C. Signore

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The authors in this article review the history of the business method exception before and after the State Street Bank case. In that case, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided that there was no business method exception, and never had been. The court pointed out that previous decisions were decided on other grounds found in the statutes. The authors argue that, because of the timing and economic environment of the decision, the case gained much popularity and discussion. However, the patent law has not changed since then and the business method exception is still not a patentable …

Windows Xp: Another Court Battle For Microsoft?, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 193 (2002), Sara Stocky, Reuven R. Levary

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Microsoft Windows XP's possible antitrust violations are addressed in relation to the U.S. v. Microsoft court of appeals decision. The aftermath and settlement of the Microsoft case are described. The implications of this case on the Microsoft Windows XP are discussed. Windows XP operating system is analyzed within the antitrust framework. Finally, current events that may affect a Windows XP antitrust case are discussed.

Chemical Claims Drafting After Lubrizol, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 207 (2002), Caroline Frances Barry

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In Exxon Chemical Patents, Inc. v. Lubrizol Corp. and its companion decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that a chemical composition claimed in an ingredient-based form is not infringed when there is interaction between the ingredients after they have been combined so as to later either their quantity or their chemical form. This article discusses the impact of the decisions on chemical drafting of chemical inventions. The author argues that the decisions were wrongly decided. Furthermore, the author proposes an amendment to the Patent Act to allow ingredient-based claiming to continue to be used and …

The “Magic Lantern” Revealed: A Report Of The Fbi’S New “Key Logging” Trojan And Analysis Of Its Possible Treatment In A Dynamic Legal Landscape, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 287 (2002), Neal Hartzog

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

"You already have zero privacy anyway. Get over it." With the FBI's new stealth surveillance tool, the "Magic Lantern," this quote is an understatement. This article takes reader through a revealing journey of how the FBI, under the authority of the USA Patriot Act, conducts surveillance by using the most advanced technology such as the "Magic Lantern" and "Carnivore." The author first explains how these invisible keystroke logging software/worm/Trojan horse functions in acquiring the information for the FBI constantly and consistently over the Internet. Undoubtedly, the extend of individual's privacy invasion would be pervasive. Hence, the author discusses the constitutionality …

Face Recognition Technology: The Potential Orwellian Implications And Constitutionality Of Current Uses Under The Fourth Amendment, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 321 (2002), Robert H. Thornburg

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Did you smile at the 2001 Super Bowl at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium? Hope you did because the facial recognition cameras certainly got your smile, applause, disappointment and kisses in that great American sports night. If you missed your 15-second of fame, try it again at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. With the use of facial recognition technology at the 2001 Super Bowl and Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the author seeks to explore the use of this facial recognition technology. He further discusses the constitutionality of it under the Fourth Amendment. In doing so, he analyzes how facial …

Transnational Evidence Gathering And Local Prosecution Of International Cybercrime, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 347 (2002), Susan W. Brenner, Joseph J. Schwerha Iv

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

By analyzing two high-profile cybercrime cases, the authors discuss legal and procedural issues involved when gathering evidence across national borders. In US v. Gorshkov, the FBI was asked to investigate a series of intrusions into the computer systems of businesses in the US from Russia. The second incident is when system administrators at the Rom Air Development Center at Griffis Air Force Base in New York discovered hackers had installed password sniffer programs on all system networks. One of the hackers was identified to be a British citizen. The first thing to start a transnational evidence gathering is to determine …

E-Korean Dsl Policy: Implications For The United States, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 417 (2002), Junseong An

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In a comparative study of the DSL service developments between the US and South Korea, the author discusses the strength of South Korea in this regard and how the US counterpart can learn from the examples. First, the author argues the laws and regulations in South Korea make the DSL deployment flourish. The urban development in Seoul, for example, gets people "wired" easier and cheaper as city dwellers live in multi-dwelling units. In addition, the forward thinking of the South Korean government in laying the Korean Information Infrastructure culminates this rapid development. With a comprehensive plan in place, the economics …

In Re Mastercard International, Inc.: The Inapplicability Of The Wire Act To Tradistional Casino-Style Games, 20 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 445 (2002), Elizabeth A. Walsh

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Using the online gambling and gaming as the background, the author discusses the impact of the Wire Communications Act of 1961 and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) on the gaming industry. The story goes like this: Bob stumbled upon an online gambling Web site. While excited, he charges his credit card to open a gambling account with the site. He did not need to leave home to enjoy this great adventure. However, when the luck runs out, Bob realizes he has $3,000 in debt. Unwilling to pay, Bob decides to sue someone. In the end, Bob decides …