One of the most active law topics on the internet is, of course, technology law. Techies invented and developed the internet and have always been at the forefront of web publishing via forums, blogs, wikis and other social media; and tech lawyers have not been far behind as internet developments have thrown up many new legal issues.
While “technology” formerly had its place firmly in the tech corner, now it is almost synonymous with the internet which touches most aspects of our lives and so tech lawyers are increasingly interested not just in technology per se but also in IP (in particular copyright), in licensing and e-commerce and, more widely, in what is referred to as digital media law.
Below we’ll look at some of the best channels for keeping up with technology and media law in all its hues via blogs. (Information rights, defamation and privacy we will leave for a future issue.)
But before reviewing the blogs, let’s mention Out-Law.com. Out-Law is part of Pinsent Masons, an international law firm. It provides free guides, articles and news stories relating to everything from the drawing up of online contracts and agreements to issues of taxation and defamation. The site exists because “we want you to choose our law firm when you need more help”.
Out-Law.com started back in 2004 as an IT and e-commerce news site. It was not, and has never been, a blog, but according to Struan Robertson, its long-time former editor “it achieved many of the same things as a good corporate blog: it raised our profile; it proved our expertise in technology law where rivals only claimed to be experts; it communicates in plain English, not legalese; it made the law firm more approachable; it brought out some personality. Most importantly, it brings in work for the firm.”
Out-Law now provides updates on a wide range of law topics. Its technology section remains strong.
Here then, in alpha order, are the blogs about technology law in all its flavours. The descriptions are in the bloggers’ own words, taken directly from their strap lines or About pages. Links to all the blogs, together with descriptions and their latest posts, are on the infolaw site in the Lawfinder Blogs: Technology and Media section. This list does not pretend to be comprehensive; submissions for deserved inclusion are welcome. To propose your site or another, just click the Submit link on the site.
CRITique is a blog by members of the Commercial team at Charles Russell LLP. It started out as an internal vehicle for their IT lawyers to learn about blogging and blogs (hence CR IT ique).
CyberPanda by a barrister of the Inner Temple provides comment and analysis on important legal developments in the field of cyberspace.
Digital Adventures is by Jon Harman, adventurer in new media, law and education, Director of Media at the College of Law. It covers media, education, technology and law.
Electro Mate by Fernando Barrio covers UK and global IT and IP legal and policy issues. From e-contracts to global IP, this is the place to go if you don’t know what to do but don’t want to do it alone.
Francis Davey, barrister, aims to talk about the way that the law affects the digital environment in a way that is comprehensible to interested non-lawyers. He is particularly interested in copyright and related rights, but also keeps an eye on all kinds of legal developments that affect the web.
IP and Media Law by Steve Kuncewicz of Gateley is “one lawyer’s views on IP and media law”.
Jordan Hatcher, among other things, a lawyer, academic and entrepreneur working on intellectual property and internet law issues in the UK and worldwide, writes about intellectual property, technology, open licensing, law and strategy.
Laurence Kaye on Digital Media Law is a blog about the future of digital media law by Laurie Kaye, an expert lawyer in the fields of digital law, intellectual property and media law.
Law in the Cloud by John Halton, partner at Cripps Harries Hall, follows the legal issues surrounding the move into the cloud.
Law, Justice and Journalism is a new interdisciplinary centre based at City University London, bringing together law, criminology and journalism. This blog provides a space for discussion and debate around the Centre’s activity and research.
Lawclanger by Simon Bradshaw, onetime RAF engineer and now mature pupil barrister, covers intellectual property, computer and new technology law.
Lex Ferenda by Daithi Mac Sithigh, lecturer at UEA Law School, University of East Anglia, is a blog about the regulation of web media.
MediaPaL@LSE from the LSE Department of Law provides comment and sources on media policy and law.
Meeja Law by Judith Townend, journalist, follows media law and ethics for online publishers, with a specific focus on English law.
Naked Law by Mills & Reeve UK is technology law laid bare by Cambridge lawyers. They write about the latest legal and regulatory developments relating to information and communication technology, e-commerce, and privacy.
panGloss by Lilian Edwards is a cyberlaw blog specialising in online privacy and security law, cybercrime, online intermediary law (including eBay and Google law), e-commerce, digital property and “whatever captures my eye:-) With the odd tartan moment!”
QuickLinks provides links to news items about legal and regulatory aspects of the internet and the information society, particularly those relating to information content, and market and technology.
The SCL Editor’s Blog by Laurence Eastham provides comment on developments in IT law and IT applications in the areas traditionally covered by Computers & Law.
Tech and Law is by a lawyer trying to learn technology and technology law and covers law for technologists, technology for lawyers and anything in between, with a particular interest in the impact of technology on identity, privacy and security.
Technollama by Andres Guadamuz, law lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, covers several cyberlaw topics, with emphasis on open licensing, digital rights, software protection, virtual worlds and llamas.
The Website Law Blog by SEQ Legal LLP aims to help non-lawyers understand and apply the law relating to websites.
Nick Holmes is joint Editor of the Newsletter.
Email nickholmes@infolaw.co.uk.
