Law and Society in Cyberspace
Legal 150a
Ethan Katsh (ekatsh@brandeis.edu)
Mondays / Wednesdays 3:40 - 5
Course web site: http://www.odr.info/brand

Text

Bellia, Berman and Post, Cyberlaw: Problems of Policy and Jurisprudence in the Information Age (St.Paul: West, 2003)

Additional readings

1. In addition to the text, we will be learning about law and the Internet using a variety of materials that can be found online. Links to these readings will be accessible from the readings link on the left.

2. We will also be relying on a cyberlaw newsletter that is free and that will be emailed to you several times a week. You can subscribe to the newsletter at http://ecommercecenter.bna.com/.

Assignments, requirements and grades

1.  Grades will reflect attendance, participation in class, and written work. My office is in 320 Brown and my office hours are Monday and Wednesday 2:45 - 3:30, or by appointment. I hope that you will stop by at least once during the semester.

2.   Term assignments -

a - Choice of midterm exam or participating in developing a cyberlaw blog - The midterm exam, if you chose that option, would be a traditional essay exam. A blog is a type of Web page that allows for its participants to express thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways. It does not require any special technical skills but if you choose this option (which I will explain in more detail in class) it will require you to post at least one entry or comment each week. There are thousands of blogs on the Net but you can look at one I have some involvement in at http://www.odr.info

and

b. A research paper of 20-25 pages on a cyberlaw issue. Some possible topics are accessible form the projects link but please feel free to choose your own. The paper should reflect an understanding of the technology/law relationship that is at the heart of this course. I encourage you to speak to me as you conduct your research. In addition to the written paper, each person will be given a few minutes during one of the last classes of the semester to report on his or her project. Abstracts (100-200 words) about your project should be emailed to me no later than February 22nd.

c. In lieu of b, if you have technical skills or some specialized interest, I am open to other proposals.

4. If you need to miss a class, please let me know  <mailto:katsh@legal.umass.edu>  and check the online syllabus for the next class assignment. Part of the challenge the law faces is that information in the online environment is more fluid and changeable than information in print. In a somewhat similar way, an online syllabus provides opportunities for modification that are easier than when it is on paper. I would expect that the syllabus would be changed a few times during the semester so please refer to it when checking on readings and assignments. I also expect to add a few guests and will probably need to make some changes to accommodate their schedules.