SIE 525 INFORMATION SYSTEMS LAW

University of Maine

SIE 525 INFORMATION SYSTEMS LAW

Fall 2004

11:00 - 12:15 Tues & Thurs, Room 326 Boardman Hall

onsrud@spatial.maine.edu

Course Objectives

This course reviews the current status of information systems law in regard to rights of privacy, freedom of information, confidentiality, work product protection, copyright, security, legal liability, and a range of additional legal and information policy topics. We will investigate the legal difficulties that technological innovations are causing in all of these areas. We will focus particularly on these issues in regard to their impact on the use of databases and, more specifically, spatial databases. Legal options for dealing with the conflicts caused by technological change and likely adaptations of the law over time in response to societal changes will be explored.

Course Materials

Note that this is a graduate course in information systems law and ethical issues for non-law students. The typical enrolled student is pursuing a graduate degree in engineering, information systems, or computer science. As such, substantial time is spent on introductory legal concepts. Further, we will focus on overview books for most of the readings rather than use the text of case law or legislation. (For materials appropriate for a law school course, see for instance, Jessica Littman's Index to Cyberlaw Courses or any of Pam Samuelson's courses cyberlaw courses.)

Required readings include several books. The reading assignments are much heavier than experienced normally in engineering or science courses so you should begin them immediately and pace yourself to ensure their completion. The required books should be available through the university bookstore. Most are also readily available by ordering them from online sources but if a book has to be back ordered I highly recommend that you acquire it instead at the bookstore so you have it when you need it.

Course lectures will NOT correspond exactly with the readings. Additional reading materials will be made available and linked from the web syllabus over time. Geographic data conflict examples are often used in this course to illustrate principles.

Communications

All enrolled students must obtain a FirstClass mail account. Delivery of assignments, exams, and written communications among the class as a group will occur through use of this system. Information on obtaining a FirstClass account and information on acquiring additional free software to access course materials may be found at access, hardware and software. Contacts for phone and e-mail technical assistance are also provided. All students should read and adhere to the Self Study Lecture Considerations described below. Some of your lectures will be viewed by you using the technologies described.

Notes Concerning First Class: If you prefer using another e-mail address, you can set FirstClass to forward any e-mails arriving on your FirstClass account to your standard e-mail address (or vice versa.) All assignments and exams will be delivered by electronic mail by you to a FirstClass assignment folder. Please note that messages may be sent from anywhere on the Internet to the rest of the class by sending a message to SIE525@umit.maine.edu

Important Disability Notice

Introductory materials are available for those students interested in GIS Law issues.

Term Paper Instructions

Book Review Instructions

Self Study Lecture Considerations

A few lectures on the syllabus are listed as self-study lectures (designated by "SS"). For these sessions you are expected to view the class lectures archived from a previous year by "webcast" and follow along with the accompanying PowerPoint slides. You may choose to listen to the lectures on the computers in Rooms 137 and 138 Boardman if you don't have high speed access elsewhere. Bring a cheap set of headphones or you may find a communal pair in the room. If you are using your own computer, please read access, software and hardware requirements. To ensure that all technologies are working you should be able to view (1) this web page, (2) the pdf or PowerPoint slides for a lecture, and (3) the streaming video all at the same time on your screen in three separate windows. After you have followed the download instructions, test that you are operational by clicking on "Slides 1" and "Lecture 1" in the syllabus found at SIE525 2003 Syllabus.

Office Hours

I am in the office most days and you are welcome to drop by or call at any time although appointments are sometimes better for longer discussions. E-mail to onsrud@spatial.maine.edu is the simplest way to get a message through and a response. Another way to get help is to post your question to other students in the course in the SIE525 folder on FirstClass at SIE525@umit.maine.edu .

Approximate Schedule of Lectures

Wk	Day	Date	Topic	Book Reading Assignments*	Extra Assignments	Possible Class Video
1	T	Aug 31	Introductory Materials [SlidesIntro]	Book 1: Ch 1 Book 2: Ch 1-5 Book 5: Exec Sum, Ch 1, Appendix C
	TH	Sept 2	(continued)
2	T	Sept 7	Liability [SlidesLiability]	Book 2: Ch 6-8	Read Liability in Use of GIS
	TH	Sept 9	(continued)
3	T	Sept 14	Ethics [SlidesEthics]	Book 3: Ch 1
	TH	Sept 16	(continued)		1. Liability Scenario Response Due 9/25
4	T	Sept 21	Privacy [SlidesPrivacy]	Book 1: Ch 9 Book 2: Ch 11 Book 3: Ch 5 Book 4: All		Lecture 6 <New York>
	TH	Sept 23	(continued)			Lecture 7 <New York>
5	T	Sept 28	Privacy [SlidesPrivacyLBS]
	TH	Sept 30	Intellectual Property Basics [SlidesIPBasics]	Book 1: Ch 3-5 Book 2: Ch 9-10 Book 3: Ch 4 Book 5: Ch 2, 4, Appendix D
6	T	Oct 5	(continued)
	TH	Oct 7	Copyright
7	T	Oct 12	Fall Break
	TH	Oct 14	(continued)		2. Privacy Scenario Response Due
8	T	Oct 19	Database Legislation & Academic Research [SlidesDtbs]			Lecture 14 <Santiago, Chile>
	TH	Oct 21	Self-help Technologies: Contracts & Information Commons Concepts [SlidesCpyLt] [SlidesDataCommons]	Book 1: Ch 6 Book 5: Ch 5 [DataCommnsDemo]	Read Tragedy of Info Commons	Lecture 15 <GIScience 2004>
9	T	Oct 26	(continued)
	TH	Oct 28	Public Information [SlidesFOIA]	Book 5: Ch 3	.
10	T	Nov 2	Public Information (con't)		.
	TH	Nov 4	Public Information [SlidesLocalGovt]		Read Ten Ways - just published
11	T	Nov 9	IP Discussion on File Sharing		3. In class IP exercise
	TH	Nov 11
12	T	Nov 16	Free Speech [SlidesFreeSpeech]]	Book 1: Ch 10-11 Book 2: Ch 12 Book 3: Ch 3
	TH	Nov 18	Evidentiary Admissibility [SlidesEvid]]		Evidence from GIS
13	T	Nov 23	Jurisdiction and the Internet [SlidesJuris]	Book 1: Ch 2 Book 2: Ch 14 Book 3: Ch 2
	TH	Nov 25	Thanksgiving Break
14	T	Nov 30	Security, Encryption, and IP Management Issues	Book 1: Ch 12-13 Book 3: Ch 6 Book 5: Appndx E	4. IP, Public Info, Jurisdiction, Free Speech Scenario Response Due
	TH	Dec 2	International Law and Trade [SlidesILT]]	Book 1: throughout
15	T	Dec 7	(continued)
	TH	Dec 9	Review	Book 2: Ch 15-17 Book 5: Ch 6
	TH	Dec 16	Final Exam (10:30 am -12:30)		5. Final Exam