Internet Law Law and Legal Definition
The Internet's explosive growth has given rise to many new legal concepts and created a need for expanding traditional legal concepts. Court decisions are continually refining the application of legal definitions and boundaries on the Internet. Some of the issues dealt with in Internet law include:
- Contracts
- Free Speech
- Intellectual Property
- Securities
- Encryption/Cryptography
- Taxation
- Criminal Offenses
- Gambling
- Privacy
Because of the international nature of the Internet, there are jurisdictional
issues involving which laws apply in a particular case. There are state
and federal laws governing Internet activities. Some state laws are applicable
if a computer in the state transmits or receives information that is the
subject matter of a legal issue. Some federal laws applicable to the Internet
include:
COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT
47 U.S.C. Section 230
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS PRIVACY ACT
18 U.S.C Sections 2701-2711 - Stored Wire and Electronic Communications
and Transactional Records Access
DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT
17 U.S.C. § 512
