Analysis Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Society for Computers & Law

Software Escrow – Its Evolution, Use in Legal Frameworks and The Influence of AI

Analysis • December 12, 2024

Mark Ryan and Tom Sweet of SES Secure trace the evolution of software escrow and the impact of AI on its use As many readers will know, software escrow is a risk mitigation tool that safeguards the critical assets, such as software applications, organisations are reliant on. It typically involves a tri-party legal agreement being…

How Software is Designed and Built

Analysis • December 9, 2024

William Hooper looks at how software design can influence the success of a project. William Heath Robinson had a delightful eye for the absurd. His designs were elaborate and amusingly flawed. How is software designed and built, and what is the effect of this on value to a customer? Does it matter if the design…

The return of the great SaaS debate: is it goods or services?

Analysis • November 7, 2024

James Gill and Fiona Vickerstaff of Lewis Silkin summarise a recent case on the legal status of software as a service. Those of us working in the tech space will remember the relatively recent case of The Software Incubator Ltd v Computer Associates UK Ltd in which the CJEU decided that a perpetual licence to use software constituted…

Generative AI: Redefining Access To Justice

Analysis • October 25, 2024

Amanda Chaboryk examines how policies and organisations may need to adapt if generative AI is to be used to improve access to justice. Introduction The legal field has consistently faced a growing and essential demand for innovation to tackle persistent issues related to access to justice. At a high level, the primary factors that impact access…

The UK Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill – a different approach to NIS2 or a British sister act?

Analysis • October 21, 2024

It wouldn’t be much of an exaggeration to say that NIS2 is the acronym on everyone’s lips (at least in public sector IT circles that is). When coupled with its European sister legislation DORA, we encounter a regulatory twosome that makes the GDPR feellike yesterday’s news. And appropriately so given the EU’s second Network and…

Some comebacks work: the reformed Public Sector Tech Group

Analysis • October 17, 2024

Mark O’Conor and Nick de Lacy Brown, co-chairs of the revived Public Sector Tech Group, on the reasons for the initiative and what the Group seeks to achieve. There has never been a more exciting time to work in technology law – we all know that. But it is not just the private sector taking…

The SCL AI Conference: Key Takeaways

Analysis, Event Reports • October 14, 2024

Mauricio Figueroa summarises the key points from the SCL AI Conference hosted by Herbert Smith Freehills on 8th October. Practitioners, lawmakers, academics, trainees, in-house lawyers, and civil society representatives gathered at Herbert Smith Freehills’ offices in London for the annual Society for Computers and Law AI conference. The event brought together experts to explore the…

The Procurement Act 2023 and its implications for tech procurement

Analysis • October 4, 2024

The long-awaited Procurement Act is scheduled to come into force in February next year promising a more flexible regime. Professor Albert Sanchez-Graells picks out some of the challenges it will pose for those working in public-sector procurement. After a recently announced 4-month delay to its ‘go live’ date, the Procurement Act 2023 is now due…

IA Before AI: Facilitating Generative AI Adoption within Legal Teams

Analysis • October 2, 2024

Amanda Chaboryk and Nicholas Cook highlight the importance of reviewing your information architecture before using your data for generative AI The advent of artificial intelligence (AI), and generative AI (GenAI) in particular, has resulted in a dawning era of transformative potential in the legal domain. It has been met with a range of reactions from…

AI literacy on the agenda: EU, UK and US

Analysis • September 12, 2024

Tom Whittaker and Ryan Jenkins look at the increasing importance of AI literacy in the EU and more globally AI literacy in simple terms is about developing skills and understanding regarding how to develop and use AI, its opportunities and risks. Contracts, governance and internal policies may require or encourage some form of AI literacy….