Science & Technology Law
Science and technology law is an ever-expanding umbrella encompassing issues such as computer law, technological property, telecommunications, biotechnology, nanotechnology, information security law, privacy, genetic research, engineering, and the Internet. Not only are laws governing the internet especially controversial, they also influence the largest group of people because of widespread Internet dependence from shopping to paying monthly bills to finding friends.Internet law issues hover over a wide range of spectrum. The following are some examples of the issues involved in Internet law.
Cybersquatting
Cybersquatting is the registration of a domain name in which the person has no real interest. As domain names are registered on a first-come-first-serve basis, cybersquatters can gain profit by reserving and subsequently reselling the domain name to the companies or individuals that have the trademarked right to the domain name. For instance, a cybersquatter may register the name “Target.com” and try to sell the site back to the Target Corporation for profit. Other cybersquatters reserve domain names to block the corresponding companies or individuals from conducting business online. With the Target example, a cybersquatter may register the name “Target.com” so that Target cannot conduct business online.
Litigation involving cybersquatting has grown exponentially since the last decade. In 1999, Congress passed the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, or the ACPA, to hold cybersquatters liable for civil damages in the event they register for domain names that are identical or confusingly similar to a famous mark, and if there is intent to profit from this activity.
Computer Fraud and Abuse
Privacy has been a big issue for consumers using the Internet. In response to rampant Internet fraud and consumer concerns, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) was amended in 1996 to hold anyone who intentionally accesses a computer without authorization liable for civil damages. In other words, anyone who illegitimately collects consumer’s personal information is in violation of this act.
Electronic Communications Privacy
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act forbids the intentional and illegitimate interception of electronic communications; the intentional and illegitimate disclosure of electronic communications; and the intentional and illegitimate use of electronic communications. In these cases, illegitimacy refers to intercepts obtained through illicit means.
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