Computers and the Law

Computers and the Law provides readers with an introduction to the legal issues associated with computing – particularly in the massively networked context of the Internet. Assuming no previous knowledge of the law or any special knowledge of programming or computer science, this textbook offers undergraduates of all disciplines and professionals in the computing industry an understanding of basic legal principles and an awareness of the peculiarities associated with legal issues in cyberspace. This is not a law school casebook, but rather a variety of carefully chosen, relevant cases presented in redacted form. The full cases are available on an ancillary Web site. The pervasiveness of computing in modern society has generated numerous legal ambiguities. This book introduces readers to the fundamental workings of the law in physical space and suggests the opportunity to create new types of laws with nontraditional goals.