E-Commerce Law & Drafting (LAW-846-001)
Effross
Meets: 09:00 AM - 10:50 AM (T) - Room 526
Enrolled: 14 / Limit: 18
Notices
There are no notices at this time.
Description
This course presents practical contractual and licensing techniques to minimize the legal, technological, and cultural uncertainties facing the parties in transactions involving digitized information (text, music, images, video, software) and/or digital methods of communication (e-mail, Web sites).
Our detailed examinations of both traditional and recently-developed provisions, and the extensive drafting-issues checklist developed throughout the semester, should be of continuing professional and personal relevance to anyone contemplating preparing, revising, or negotiating contracts or licenses of any type.
Actual and model documents analyzed during the semester, along with their underpinnings in the laws of contracting and of intellectual property, include:
beta test, nondisclosure, and noncompetition agreements;
“work for hire” agreements, and copyright and patent assignments;
content licenses, agreements for distribution and publication, and Web site “terms and conditions”;
privacy releases and privacy policies;
software and Web site development agreements and licenses;
agreements with Internet service providers, Web hosts, and domain name registrars; and
policies restricting expression and conduct on Web sites, and (for employees) on computer, Internet, and e-mail systems.
Readings will include selected caselaw; statutory and regulatory provisions; and material from law reviews, newspapers, magazines, and Web sites.
The examination will be an open-book take-home paper (due on Tuesday, May 4, the second day of exam period) of 4,000 to 5,000 words (approximately 16 - 20 typed, double-spaced pages) on a specific topic to be identified at the end of the last class session.
There are no law school course prerequisites, nor any requirement of any specific level of technical competence with computers, software, or the Internet.
Enrollment in this class is limited.
Textbooks and Other Materials
The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.
The assigned book for the course is Fishman, Web & Software Development: A Legal Guide (Nolo: 5th ed. 2007).
First Class Readings
Before our first class (on Tuesday, January 12), please read the Course Memorandum and Handout 1, which are now available from the Course Packet Distribution Center (window outside Room 465).
Please note that the $25 fee for this initial handout covers the cost of all of the course’s handouts (the remainder of which will be distributed in class during the semester).