Chapter 1 - Introduction

You own a business with a web site. What are your potential liabilities? What steps should you take to protect your business? What contracts need to be drafted? What policies must be put into place? This book describes basic Internet legal issues for you and provides you with some practical tips on how to minimize your risks.

Cyberspace Law or Internet Law covers a broad range of issues and many different types of law such as tax, intellectual property (copyright, trade marks, patents), and corporate & commercial law. You should consider the types of risks facing a web site owner. In order to understand these risks, you must consider the various types of intellectual property and their basic characteristics. It is recommended that you perform an I/P (intellectual property) audit of your organization. One method of controlling risks is to have appropriate web site contracts in place. Of crucial importance is to consider your domain name as intellectual property and the relationship between trade marks and domain names. Also of great importance is to understand the issue of jurisdiction or where you can be sued. Minimizing risks for links and mega tags is important as well as ensuring that your online contracts are enforceable. Also, your privacy policies and procedures must be developed to ensure compliance with PIDEDA and to maximize good will.

This book is for managers, executives, accountants, computer professionals and owners of businesses that have web pages. It is also for information systems professionals whose work is affected by computer and Internet law. The purpose of this book is to explain in plain English basic issues in Internet law so that you can take appropriate steps to protect your business while increasing market share. It is anticipated that this will be a first step in this process and that you will consult with legal counsel to assist your business. Now consider some of the risks you face.

© 2007 G.C. Eyre, All Rights Reserved

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