Internet Law for Business

Course aims

The purpose of the Internet Law for Business course is to help you minimise the risks to your business from unforeseen legal problems. You will learn how to conclude watertight contracts on-line, how to deal with tax issues, protecting and enforcing your rights, compliance procedures and avoiding liability for content.

Who can benefit from attending the course?

Our Internet Law for Business is ideal for anyone with responsibility for an organisation's activities on the internet, who should all be aware of the risks associated with the internet. This may include members of an organisation's marketing, legal and IT departments, as well as customer and contract managers for businesses that trade online.

The course will be tailored to the specific requirements of the audience, but the following are examples of the content covered.

Overview of Laws and Policy Affecting the Internet

  • How traditional English law applies to the Internet
  • Recent UK legislation
    • Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988
    • Computer Misuse Act 1990
    • Trade Marks Act 1994
    • Data Protection Act 1998 and associated Regulations
    • Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) Regulations 2000
    • Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
    • Electronic Communications Act 2000
    • Distance Selling Regulations 2000
    • Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  • International developments
  • WIPO/OECD developments
  • Competition law and internet-based distribution

Entering Watertight Contracts Via the Internet

  • How do you enter a contract over the Internet
  • What terms should you use?
  • Capacity to contract (e.g. age, language)
  • Pitfalls to avoid (e.g. Argos case)
  • Taking payment and VAT issues
  • How to enforce contracts and other rights on the Internet

Marketing via the internet

  • Websites as advertising space
  • Websites and privacy
  • E-mail marketing

Practical Ways of Protecting Your Interests

  • System security
  • Protecting your content and intellectual property rights
  • Preventing infringement of third party rights
  • Domain names
  • Achieving compliance

Content Issues

  • Liability for intellectual property right infringement
    • Website creation and hosting agreements
    • Trademarks and domain names
  • Defamation

Achieving Compliance

  • Data protection
    • Privacy statements
    • Cookies
  • Spamming
  • Employees (e.g. e-mail, defamation, blogging, authority, monitoring)
  • IT usage policies
  • Consumer protection
  • Some particular international risks