The thing that sets this book apart from many other similar books on the market is its sheer entertainment value. The layout is attractive and makes the book easy to read, and the book relies heavily on cases to illustrate key points, which in this area of the law, in itself provides some amusing material.
The book promises to be concise, and concise it is, providing just the right amount of information to be used as a reference book by a practitioner who quickly wants to remind him or herself of the outline details of a particular case, or to obtain a quick overview of a particular topic. Because of the fact that the author does not seek to over-complicate the issues, and relies on entertaining examples to demonstrate the legal points, it is likely to be invaluable for those on the lecture circuit or those who are called upon to explain this topic to lay people. The format of the book also renders it a perfect start point for the novice or those without legal training. The book provides sensible practical guidance in a “tips” section, which in reality is what many readers will be looking for, rather than academic conjecture.
For those who are wrestling with more complex legal issues arising from the use of networked communications, such as what to do in group companies in cross border e-mail monitoring situations, a more heavy-weight publication would be required. Those who are likely to have to answer questions on the lines of “what if?” from those whom they advise will probably want to obtain the full case reports for the cases summarised in the books, as the format of the book by necessity has lead to some over-simplification of the cases cited. However, as an entry level text, I have yet to find a book that beats this one for accessibility.
Tamzin Mathews is an Associate Solicitor at Morgan Cole.
Stephen Mason’s book is published by XPL and is priced at £44 (see www.xplpublishing.com).
