NCJ Number
84644
Date Published
1982
Length
246 pages
Annotation
This volume examines the central doctrines of the common law in the areas of intellectual property, contracts, torts, crimes, privacy, and evidence in terms of their application to computers, with emphasis on the law of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Abstract
The text is intended as a guide to lawyers, to anyone who works in the computer industry, and to interested laypersons. Emphasis is placed on decided cases and on legislation which has been enacted or proposed. The relationship between computers and laws regarding intellectual property is examined with respect to patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. The law related to computer contracts is discussed for hardware contracts, software contracts, personnel contracts, service bureau contracts, and contracts regarding sales and leases. The limitation of liability and cases involving damages are also described. The conventional wisdom and fallacies regarding problems of confidentiality of computer data are delineated, as are preventive and remedial measures to protect privacy and confidentiality. The admissibility as evidence of computer outputs is also examined. Recent developments in computer law are also covered. A table of statutes, a table of cases, an index of concepts, an index of names, footnotes, and about 75 references are supplied.