Outsourcing, database rights, Y2K and electronic commerce – Are youconfident that you are up-to-date and fully conversant with the legal issueswhich they generate?
Computer law is rapidly turning into the specialism that serious players inthe legal marketplace cannot do without. What was once a minority interest isnow impinging on the business of corporate clients in all areas not just thoseinvolved in the software industry, and if your firm cannot meet their needsadequately then there are others who will. The problem is how to keep an edge inthis fast-changing world and how to be sure that you are providing a servicewhich is up to the mark.
On 8 and 9 July, at Berners Hotel in central London, SCL is offering twoone-day computer law courses designed for practitioners of computer law; theywill cover a series of hot topics, and more. Top names in the field share theirinsights and knowledge.
For SCL members each one-day course is offered at £225, or £375 for the twocourses. For non-members a one-day course costs £250, or £450 for the two.Contact SCL Headquarters on 01179 237393 to book or via the SCL Web page (www.scl.org/).
Enhancing Your Computer Law Practice: 8 July
This course is aimed at practitioners who already have some knowledge and/orexperience of computer law and wish to familiarise themselves with more complexlegal issues on which clients are likely to need advice in the near future.
Each speaker has substantial expertise in his particular area, and willconcentrate on the practical application of that expertise to real, rather thantheoretical, issues. The format has been designed to allow time for audiencediscussion and participation.
1. New developments in outsourcing
Speaker: Jon Edgell, Tite & Lewis
Jon is a solicitor with Tite & Lewis, the Coopers & Lybrandassociated law firm, and has been responsible for a number of substantial,multi-jurisdictional outsourcing transactions.
- the move from products to services and strategic alliances
- transferring existing processing to the outsourcing supplier
- performance by the supplier including setting service levels and remedies for non-compliance
- termination and migration to a different supplier
- other models: smartsourcing and other variations
2. Litigating IT disputes
Speaker: Richard Stephens, Masons
Richard is a partner in the London law firm Masons and was formerly abarrister. He specialises in litigation in the IT field and has been responsiblefor the conduct of many of the most substantial IT-related disputes of recentyears.
- types of dispute
- mediation
- expert arbitration
- litigation
- using expert witnesses
- obtaining and preserving evidence
- the implications of the Court of Appeal decision in St. Albans v ICL for the computer industry
3. Database rights, database marketing and data protection
Speaker: Chris Coulter, Ashurst Morris Crisp
Chris is a solicitor with the CMT group of Ashurst Morris Crisp, and adviseson a wide range of computer law matters.
- rights of database owners
- database marketing including ownership issues and licensing
- limitations on marketing – data protection and related issues
4. Year 2K – after the crash?
Speaker: Robert A. Rosen, Puopolo, Sistilli, Geffers & Luise
Rob Rosen is a member of the California State Bar and a partner in Puopolo,Sistilli, Geffers & Luise, Rome, where he is Chairman of the Technology LawPractice Group and the Year 2000 Team. Rob is a specialist in Year 2000litigation, and has spoken and published widely on the topic, both in Europe andthe US.
- the current state of play in Year 2K compliance
- before the crash – preparing for litigation
- after the crash – successful litigation
Introduction to Electronic Commerce, 9 July
This course is aimed at practitioners who recognise that electronic commercewill soon be one of the most important matters on which clients need advice, andwho wish to develop an understanding of the legal issues involved.
The course will be given by Chris Reed and Lars Davies from the IT Law Unit,Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London,both internationally acknowledged experts in electronic commerce law. They willexplain the practical application of the law, as well as examining theoreticalissues, and will suggest ways of coping with the multi-jurisdictional nature ofelectronic commerce transactions. The format has been designed to allow time foraudience discussion and participation, so that delegates can benefit from theexperience of other attendees.
1. Establishing an online presence
Speaker: Lars Davies
- IPRs in Web sites – infringement of third party rights, preservation of the owner’s rights
- contracting with service providers
- trade marks and domain names
2. Contracts with consumer customers
Speaker: Chris Reed
- effective contract formation
- incorporating terms and conditions
- contents of terms and conditions
- consumer protection issues
3. Regulatory issues
Speaker: Lars Davies
- advertising controls
- sectoral regulation
- encryption and digital signatures
- national language requirements
- ring-fencing liabilities
4. Selling digital products
Speaker: Chris Reed
- scope of existing licences
- licensing and delivery methods
- preparing to sue infringers
