Internet Law

There is no such thing as “Internet Law.” Notwithstanding the previous statement, the Internet forces us to deal with legal issues that are substantially different from those issues that are traditionally faced in the “real world.” Moreover, due to the technology that makes the Internet work, the “real world” law of Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Intellectual Property (to name but a few substantive areas) cannot be neatly applied to Internet scenarios that at first glance seem very similar to familiar “real world” fact patterns. The “Internet Lawyer”, whether an attorney admitted to practice law or an individual who is representing themselves, must understand substantive law, but simply understanding “real world” substantive law does not guarantee the understanding of how that law does and/or should apply to the Internet. Many of our most basic legal presumptions must be questioned before we are able to determine what law does and/or should apply to Internet scenarios.

Over the years I have tried to provide detailed information relating to various substantive areas of law as they apply to the Internet. Unfortunately, as Internet Law has grown, and as my own business has prospered, it has become an altogether to daunting task to keep the material fresh and current. Rather than provide old, stale information I have elected to cut back, at least somewhat, on the types of Internet related legal issues that are covered by IPWatchdog.com. Presently, I am retooling our Internet Law content, but hope to add more pages and substantive content during 2009, so please feel free to check back to see our progress.

For more information about Internet Law see:

• Digital Millennium Copyright Act
• Defining Computer Related Inventions
• Domain Name Purchase Agreement 1 
• Identity Theft
• Importance of Having a Website
• Writing Software Patent Applications