This course will examine the development, regulation and impact of the Internet in American society. In particular, we will focus on the expanding legal implications of this still relatively new technology and how the judicial and political apparatuses are trying to keep pace with the Internet's ever-expanding influence in our society. This course will cover the history of the Internet, court cases applying existing laws to the Internet, legislative attempts at additional regulation and theoretical concerns over the technological implications the Internet poses to deeply rooted legal concepts such as fair use.

Course Requirements:

Students will be graded on the basis of 3 exams throughout the semester. The exams combine multiple choice, short answers, and long essays. The long essay portion sets forth an extensive factual pattern, requiring the students to identify various legal concepts and ideas covered and address and analyze how the those concepts apply to the facts given. In addition to the exams, students are required to present 1-2 case briefs on an assigned court case, requiring them to write the facts, issues, holding and reasoning of the court case. Students also must present the case brief in class and post the brief to the course web site.

Intended Audience:

Communication Studies concentrators and other juniors and seniors.

Class Format:

3 hpw seminar format