I have been teaching an information law course for a while at a university here in DC, and had a very successful run at doing the course in an online only section this last semester using moodle.org (PHP/Mysql based teaching package) developed by Martin Dougiamas. I'd spoken to Brandon about offering the course to interested debian developers (uh, now more than a month ago..) and he suggested I see who might be interested here and to get the word out. The course is demanding but prepares the CS/MIS major to answer what lawyers mean when they say something is a "law" or "legal," what the sources of law in the U.S. are, what the major (common law) substantive areas of law are, three weeks on IP, and other topics applying that knowledge to topics like regulatory infrastructures and the internet, privacy, and security. There are weekly quizzes, a personal essay and group project (each 5 pages respectively), and a final exam. Currently the course has a nasty dependency (required textbook) that I'll replace with original content, when I get time. I think the text is probably worth buying but it is pricey so I'm not sure how you guys would feel about it. I am enjoying my new son and the time with my daughter a little too much to spend all my time on either my nerdy law or technical development so the drafting of the text book is going slowly. No promises yet on the text situation.. I've attached a syllabus to look over, which also has my bio. Ideally, I'm thinking I'd like to have 10-15 students for the class. I've not formalized how I'll start taking applications but I'd to see something brief describing what kind of exposure and level of interest you have in the legal aspects information systems--kind of a statement of purpose. The course is currently at http://cai.southeastern.edu/isma405/course/view.php?id=2 (debiandev/vednaibed). I'll be thinking of where to host it but please feel free to offer a nice home for the course. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! BB is Broadband by Yahoo! http://bb.yahoo.co.jp/Title:
Professor: James J. Miller, Esq. |
Southeastern University
Information Systems and the Law ISMA 405
Online Course Syllabus |
Course Description
This course explores the intersection of law and technology in the work of software developers and information technology managers. The course will introduce the foundational legal elements applicable to information systems including Intellectual Property Rights, Free Speech Rights, Privacy, Security, Business Relationships and their legal documentation, and Regulatory Structure for Information Systems. The course will provide the crucial background needed to both respond to the affirmative obligations imposed by law and understand how the law can benefit the business processes of organizations.
Today, technology professionals execute not only the nuts and bolts implementations of back and front office information systems; they shape and lead core business decisions of their entities. The role of information in organizations today makes the information professional’s involvement crucial to success and the understanding of law central in that role.
Course Methodology
The course will prepare students for this important role through discussion of topics and hands on review of the materials that will guide their analysis. The course will incorporate online resources for discussion, reading assignments, and testing with optional “offline” activities. Most current course information will be available on the website.
Graded assignments will be made available and collected online after specified periods of time. Students will complete assignments at their own pace and will free from having to appear at a certain time or location every week to complete their course requirements. It's believed that this freedom from limiting time and location constraints will allow students considerable flexibility that will allow more detailed and in-depth analysis and participation in the course topics. A variety of multimedia resources will also be made available as logistics permit.
Grades and Evaluation
15% participation
10% team drafting project
10% research essay
25% quizzes (10x 1.5%)
40% 24-hour take-home final examination
Team drafting projects will provide hands on experience demonstrating “real-world” performance for information professional. Students will be required to file a public comment in an agency or regulatory body's current rule-making proceeding, drafting policy or legal agreements on likely business topics, responding to inquiries by public bodies’ copyright infringement notices, ISP liability notices, compliance with privacy obligations. Alternatively, teams may submit alternative proposals on a relevant topic. Team assignments and topic proposals will be completed early in the course.
Students will be required to complete a 10 page research essay on a topic of interest. The essay will give each student an opportunity to research an area of interest and produce a written work reflecting their analysis and recommendations on their topic of interest.
Online participation, quizzes, and other assignments will be tracked on the website. Students will have immediate access to their progress throughout the course. Quizzes will review minimum competencies in core issues of the course. The Final Examination will be an take home essay examination comprehensive of materials covered in the course. Students will have 24 hours from the time the exam is opened to complete the examination.
Opportunities for guest speakers and visits to information policy centers will maximize the opportunities students studying in Washington D.C. enjoy.
Required and Recommended Texts
Required Text
: Gaylord A. Jentz & Roger Leroy Miller, Law for E-Commerce; Online ResourcesRecommended Text: Lawrence Lessig, Code: and other laws of cyberspace (1999); Martin P. Golding, Legal Reasoning (2001).
Professor's Introduction
James Miller is an attorney at the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology working in wireless spectrum policy. Mr. Miller is a cum laude juris doctor graduate of the Washington College of Law, American University, where he excelled in information policy issues and actively contributed to the curricula through such activities as aiding in the founding of one of the nation's first intellectual property clinics. Mr. Miller has a strong academic and real-world technical background with work experience in Japan and the United States in software development, Unix administration, and business development roles.
Contact Info:
James Miller, Esq. Attorney Advisor
Federal Communications Commission
Office of Engineering and Technology,
Policy and Rules Div., Spectrum Policy Branch
445 12th St. SW RM#7A767
Washington, DC 20554
(202)418-7351 Room: 7A767
jjmiller@fcc.gov
Guest Lecturers
Michael Scott Alprin, Esq., Trademark Attorney, Armstrong, Westerman & Hattori, LLP
David Bailey, Vice-President of Information Assurance, VGS Inc
Adam Candeub, Esq., Attorney Advisor, Federal Communication Commission
Course Schedule (Tenative)
Where Are Your Interests?
Systems Administration |
Web Developer |
Privacy (Terrorism, Pornography) Infrastructure (ICANN, Technology Regulatory, “Code as Law”) Hacking / Security (Carnivore) Monitoring (CIPA) |
Art (Moral Rights, Trademark, Fair Use) Linking Content Regulation DMCA (Distribution, Web Streaming) |
Software Developer |
Business Manager |
Encryption Reverse Engineering Software Licensing (Contract, Copyright) EULAs (UNCITA, UCC) QA Liability (Contract Warranties) |
Contract Terms Litigation and ADR State and Federal Compliance Employment Concerns Administrative Agencies |