Law and Technology (MFJ300)
This course introduces students to a various set of legal norms which govern digital business transactions.
Digital sale of goods and services is an essential part of the global economy. The need to regulate digital transactions is more pressing then ever, and the legal framework is complex to navigate.
This course will have a heavy emphasis on challenges business face when entering in the digital era. One faucet of this revolves around responsible use of personal data, in line with the EU data protection rules (GDPR). Special emphasis will be placed on how personal data can be used to support business objectives, looking into the lawfulness of its use for marketing purposes. Secondly, as primary business transactions often involve transfer of intellectual property assets – often the most valuable rights a business can have – the course will explore the framework governing the use of copyright-protected materials. Lastly, the course will explore the outlook and implications of new technologies on sales of digital goods and services, discussing the liability frameworks the businesses will face, and set of rules which govern their interactions with the consumers.
Course description for study year 2023-2024
Course code
MFJ300
Version
1
Credits (ECTS)
10
Semester tution start
Autumn
Number of semesters
1
Exam semester
Autumn
Language of instruction
English
Content
The course will comprise the following topics:
- Value of digital assets for businesses. Contracts in the digital world.
- Privacy and data protection. GDPR and lawfulness of processing.
- Use of personal data for business development and marketing purposes.
- Copyright law. Significance of intellectual property rights for digital business development.
- Use of digital business platforms. Liability of businesses functioning as online intermediaries.
- Fundamental issues in consumer protection with sale of digital content and services.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of:
- Significance of privacy and copyright rights for a business;
- Ensuring lawfulness and compliance with the privacy and data protection rules;
- Ensuring lawfulness of digital marketing;
- Regulation of liability businesses assume when providing online services;
- Fundamental issues on compliance with consumer regulations businesses have to comply with when selling digital goods and services.
- Digital contracts and the use of technology for negotiating, entering into and checking compliance with contracts
Skills
Upon completion of this course, the student will have learned how to:
- recognize core business issues stemming from the use of digital services, and understand the value of personal data and intellectual property assets for a business;
- identify core problems related to offering goods and services online;
- recognize subject matter subject to copyright protection and understand the general scope of exclusive rights conferred on owners;
- give advice on how a business can ensure lawfulness of processing of personal data under GDPR, especially in the marketing context;
- apply legal methodology to recognize problems stemming from the use of new technologies.
Required prerequisite knowledge
Exam
| Form of assessment | Weight | Duration | Marks | Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual written exam | 1/1 | 3 Hours | Letter grades | Open book, Open book exam, |
Coursework requirements
Course teacher(s)
Course coordinator:
Milos NovovicCourse coordinator:
Lana BubaloMethod of work
Estimated workload
Videos: Two hours - for introduction and clarifying of expectations, and for repetition purposes
Reading of curriculum: 72 hours - all students must read specified curriculum before class
Lectures: 36 hours
Group work/ written assignment: 32 hours (work in groups, individual hand-ins, review in class)
Self-study: 80 hours
Exam: 18 hours
Administrative work: 10 hours