Law 281: Introduction to Information Technology Law
The John Marshall Law School
Professor David E. Sorkin
Spring 2006
SYLLABUS
Overview
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of information technology law. Among the topics to be addressed are protection of computer software, information access and control, privacy and security, Internet law, and electronic commerce. This course is particularly appropriate for students who are preparing to participate on the Journal of Computer and Information Law or who are considering advanced studies in information technology law.
The website for the course is located at www.informationtechnologylaw.com.
Instructor
David E. Sorkin, Associate Professor of Law
Office: Room 738
Telephone: (312) 987-2387
E-mail: 7sorkin@jmls.edu
Office hours: Mondays 2:00-4:00 pm, and by appointment
Textbook
Peter B. Maggs, John T. Soma & James A. Sprowl, Internet and Computer Law (2d ed., Thomson/West 2005) (ISBN 0-314-16043-4, publisher's list price $92)
Course requirements and grading
The class meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00. Some extended or make-up sessions may be scheduled. Class attendance is expected, and students will be held responsible for material covered at all class meetings. Students who miss more than three class sessions will not be eligible to receive credit for the course unless alternative arrangements have been made in advance.
The class will be taught using a lecture-and-discussion format, and students must be prepared to discuss the assigned reading materials in class. If you wish to attend class but are unprepared to discuss the assigned materials, you should leave a signed note to that effect on my desk before class begins.
The course grade will be determined based upon a final examination at the end of the semester, and grades may be adjusted upward or downward by up to one full letter grade based upon attendance and class participation.
Semester schedule
We will address topics in the sequence outlined below. Most topics will require approximately one class session each. Additional topics or assigned readings may be added during the semester. You should plan to stay at least one topic ahead in the readings.
1. Introduction; Copyright
- Casebook pp. iii-iv, 1-63
2. Copyright
- Casebook pp. 64-77
- Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corp., 336 F.3d 811 (9th Cir. 2003)
- Casebook pp. 77-126
3. Copyright, continued
- Casebook pp. 126-191
4. Patents and Trade Secrets
- Casebook pp. 201-203, 216-234, 258-267, 281-293, 343-355, 388-415
5. Trademarks
- Panavision International, L.P. v. Toeppen, 141 F.3d 1316 (9th Cir. 1998)
- Avery Dennison Corp. v. Sumpton, 189 F.3d 868 (9th Cir. 1999)
- Casebook pp. 416-428
- Brookfield Communications Inc. v. West Coast Entertainment Corp., 174 F.3d 1036 (9th Cir. 1999)
- Casebook pp. 449-465
6. Domain Name Dispute Resolution; Internet Jurisdiction
- Internet Corp. for Assigned Names & Numbers, Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (Oct. 24, 1999)
- Casebook pp. 428-434
- Vivendi Universal v. Sallen, No. D2001-1121 (WIPO Nov. 7, 2001)
- Casebook pp. 434-437
- Zippo Manufacturing Co. v. Zippo Dot Com, Inc., 952 F. Supp. 1119 (W.D. Pa. 1997)
- Casebook pp. 477-493
7. Spam, Trespass, and Computer Crime
- CompuServe Inc. v. Cyber Promotions, Inc., 962 F. Supp. 1015 (S.D. Ohio 1997)
- Casebook pp. 465-476
- EBay, Inc. v. Bidder's Edge, Inc., 100 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (N.D. Cal. 2000)
- Casebook pp. 570-624
8. Content Regulation
- Casebook pp. 747-808
9. Electronic Transactions
- Casebook pp. 494-560
10. Privacy
- Casebook pp. 663-730
11. Right to Accuracy; Telecommunications; Antitrust
- Casebook pp. 731-746, 561-569, 625-662
Posted: 16 Jan 2006