Introduction to Information Technology Law

David I. Bainbridge is Emeritus Professor of Business Law at Aston Business School, Aston University and an honorary member of Hardwicke Building, Lincoln's Inn. He is a member of the Intellectual Property Bar Association and also has an extensive background in Engineering and Information Technology.

Preface

Table of cases

Table of legislation

Glossary of computer and legal terms

Civil procedure terminology

Abbreviations



Introduction

Part One: Computers and Intellectual Property



Overview of Intellectual Property Rights
Copyright basics
Computer software and copyright
Copyright and databases
Computer-generated works
Copyright and electronic publishing
Copyright in the information society
The law of confidence
Patent law
Trade marks and passing off
Designs
Semiconductor products
International implications

Part Two: Computer Contracts



Introduction to computer contracts
Fundamentals of computer contracts
Liability for defective hardware and software
Contracts for writing software
License agreements for 'off-the-shelf' software
Website development contracts
Hardware contracts

Part Three: Electronic Contracts and Torts



Nature, content and formation of electronic contracts
Performance of electronic contracts and evidential aspects
Torts relating to electronic information
Liability of information society service providers for illegal material

Part Four: Computers and Crime



Nature of computer crime
Computer fraud
Hacking - unauthorised access to computer material
Unauthorised modification of computer programs or data
Piracy and related offences
Computer pornography and harassment
Computer evidence

Part Five: Data Protection



Introduction and background to the Data Protection Act 1998
Data controllers and the Data Protection Act 1998
Data subjects' rights
Privacy in electronic communications
Freedom of information

Part Six: Professional, ethical and social issues of computing



The computer professional
Employees and their use of computing facilities
Whistleblowing and IT
Piracy and Intellectual Property Rights
Freedom of expression and laws relating to computers
Privacy and surveillance
e-Government
The impact of IT on society



* new section on computer law will also appear in here DB is deciding where it would best be placed