LAW OF THE INTERNET
BLW 350 SYLLABUS
LAW OF THE INTERNET
PROF. AALBERTS
Spring 2005
OFFICE: BEH 524
OFFICE HOURS: 3:45-5:00 M,W and 2:00-5:00 F
PHONE: 895-3919 (Messages may be left)
E-MAIL: aalberts@ccmail.nevada.edu
WEBSITE: http://www.unlv.edu/faculty/aalberts
REQUIRED TEXT: "Internet Law and Policy” Janine S. Hiller and Ronnie Cohen, Prentice-Hall, 2001.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE: This course will focus on the legal and ethical environment relevant to doing business over the Internet. Topics will include personal jurisdiction in cyberspace, electronic speech, privacy and data collection, on-line contracting, intellectual property, cyber crime and security, consumer protection, taxation, and Internet transactions involving securities.
I. GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The general objectives of this course are:
1. To enable the student to discuss the specific areas of the legal environment of the Internet and its impact upon business and society.
2. To enable the student to recognize important legal issues that relate to the Internet to aid them in the future as business persons.
3. To enable the student to cite and evaluate social, political, and economic influences
affecting the Internet both domestically and internationally.
4. To enable the student to analyze and apply ethical considerations in the Internet business
environment.
II. TOPICS COVERED: Topics and Corresponding Chapters
Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4:
Introduction to Law and the Internet
Internet Law and Policy
Electronic speech
Privacy and Data Collection
Chapters 5, 6, and 7:
Intellectual Property: Copyright
Intellectual Property: Patents, Trademarks, and Trade Secrets
Cybercrime and Security
Chapters 8, 9, 11, and 12
Online Contracts
Consumer Protection
Taxation
Securities
Class meeting: One hour, 15 minute classes, Mondays and Wednesdays
Teaching method: Lecture, case analysis, and class discussion
III. COURSE AND GRADING POLICIES:
1. Classroom attendance will be monitored during the semester. Because of the amount of material to be covered, it is important to be prepared and attend classes. Five or more unexcused absences may result in a loss of 10 course points. PLEASE DO NOT BRING FOOD INTO CLASS.
2. All exam question booklets and answers must be returned to the instructor. NO EXAM QUESTION BOOKLET AND/OR ANSWERS CAN BE TAKEN FROM THE CLASSROOM OR INSTRUCTOR'S OFFICE WITHOUT PERMISSION. A FAILING GRADE FOR THE PARTICULAR EXAM MAY OCCUR IF THIS RULE IS VIOLATED.
3. Make-up on examinations will be given. The student must inform the professor within 24, absent extreme circumstances and make up the exam within two (2) days.
4. Any student missing examinations, or any other class work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor no later than last day of late registration of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which the state has not officially recognized.
5. Any students with disabilities who may need help in taking examinations (e.g. larger print exams etc.), taking notes etc., should report to the Disability Resource Center (Student Services Complex-137) for assistance.
6. The course point distribution is as follows:
First Exam: 100 points
Second Exam: 100 points
Third Exam: 100 points
Writing Project 60 points
Total: 360 points
Class Participation and Attendance:10 points
7. The following course grading standard will be utilized
A 90 - 100%; B 80 - 89%; C 70 –79%; D 60 - 69% 0 – 59% F
If necessary, the above standard may be curved downward.
8. Pluses and minuses will be granted in conformance with the grading standard and the curve.
9. Grades will be posted outside BEH 524 alphabetically by the student's number that appears on every student's UNLV I.D. Only students who agree in writing beforehand will have his/her grades posted. Students who wish to have their grades sent by e-mail must first send their request to the professor by e-mail.
10. There will be a writing project. Details will be given out in the first of class.
IV. EXAMINATION SCHEDULE AND CONTENT:
1. First Examination: Wednesday, February 16th
Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Second Examination: Wednesday, March 30
Chapters 5, 6 and 7
3. Final Examination: Wednesday, May 11th
Chapters 8, 9, 11 and 12
NOTE: THE ABOVE EXAM DATES ARE TENTATIVE AND CAN BE CHANGED. ALL
CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF ADVANCE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE TEST.
WARNING: STUDENTS WHO PRE-ARRANGE THEIR TRAVEL OR SIMILAR PLANS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT EXAMS WILL DEFINITIVELY BE GIVEN ON THE AFOREMENTIONED EXAM DATES ASSUME ALL RISKS FROM ANY CHANGES MADE THERETO.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Writing Assignment
Law of the Internet
BLW 350
Spring, 2005
You will be required to hand in a writing assignment for your semester project. To begin, you will need to seek out other members in the class and divide up into a three (3) person team. The team members will then divide up duties in any way they choose. The team must write a short paper, three (3) to (6) pages long, doubled spaced with reasonable margins. At the end of the semester, one member of the team will present the paper to the class. The presentation will be five (5) to ten (10) minutes long.
All students in each group will receive the same point total out of 60 possible points. However, since it occasionally happens that one student does little or no work, there will be an “escape valve.” On the day the papers are due, each student will be asked to fill out a brief form indicating whether any of the students in the group should receive a lower grade than the other students, and if so, why. Since I cannot observe the process of preparing the finished product, this is the only way for me to know if someone is unfairly receiving a higher grade for the work done by their project teammates.
There will be at least six (6) teams. Potential topics can include one of those listed below. However, you may select a topic on your own. I will approve all topics regardless of whether you use the list or not since there can be no duplication of topics. You will have until February 8th (Monday) to select your team. You will have until February 16th (Wednesday) to turn in your topics.
Possible Topics:
Comparison of Electronic Signatures in the US and the EU
Online Mistakes: Who suffers the loss?
An overview of UCITA’s most important provisions
UCITA: Its controversies and future (what next?)
The Streamlined Sales Tax Project and the Internet
E-Cash: Is there a Future?
Business to Business Electronic payments: Electronic Letters of Credit
Paypal: What is its legal standing?
Credit Cards and Internet Payments