Student IT Law Essay Prize 2005:

January 1, 2005

After last year’s successful launch of the SCL IT Law Essay Prize, the opportunity again arises for a student to win prestige and considerable financial rewards by writing on this year’s topic. The competition is to follow similar lines to last year’s: again the purpose is to reward and acknowledge academic research and writing excellence in the field of UK or EU IT Law.

This year the essay is to address the question “Categorising information: a product, goods or a service?” Dr Ian Walden of the SCL’s London Group committee, who suggested this year’s topic, said that it was especially apposite because: “As information has become a key economic asset in modern economies, its appropriate legal categorisation and treatment becomes a key aspect of legal certainty for policy-makers, information producers and users.”

The first prize is:

· £1,000,

· free attendance at SCL events to the value of £500 for the period 1 July 200530 June 2006,

· free subscription to Computers & Law for that year,

plus the winner will have the opportunity to spend one week with the Technology Group at Wragge & Co LLP (www.wragge.com) for vacation work experience; the dates to be agreed with Wragge & Co LLP.

The date for submission of an entry (an essay of no more than 2000 words) is 29 April 2005. Eligible entrants are persons who, throughout the period 1 September 2004 to 30 April 2005, are students (undergraduate or post-graduate) registered in any UK or Irish University/Law School, or legal practitioner training course.

More details and the full rules are on the SCL Web site.