ELECTRONIC COMMERCE:
LAW, TECHNOLOGY, AND BUSINESS (LAW 619)

University of Pennsylvania Law School
R. Polk Wagner, Fall 2000

COURSE OUTLINE

I
AN INTRODUCTION TO ECOMMERCE: LAW, TECHNOLOGY, AND BUSINESS

A. NEW BUSINESS MODELS, NEW ECONOMICS . . . OR NOT?
    1. What exactly is new about the "new economy"?
    2. 'Net Business Models and the Legal System

B. A TECHNOLOGY PRIMER FOR THE DIGITAL LAWYER
    1. A Technological History of the Internet
    2. Internet Networking Basics
    3. The Domain Names System
    4. Inside the Web: Pages, Sites, Servers, etc.

II
THE SCOPE OF ECOMMERCE: JURISDICTION VIA THE INTERNET

A. MINIMUM CONTACTS AND THE NETWORKED ECONOMY: PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN CYBERSPACE
    1. Jurisdiction based on Web Sites
    2. Jurisdiction based on Online Transactions
    3. Jurisdiction based on Online Communications

B. KNOWING WHERE YOU'VE CLICKED: CHOICE OF FORUM ONLINE
    1. Choice of Forum Clauses in eCommerce: the Yahoo! Example
    2. The Law of Forum Selection Goes Digital

C. FUTURE CONCERNS: A BRIEF LOOK AT CHOICE OF LAW ON THE 'NET
    1. Challenges to Choice of Law Principles
    2. The International Dimension

III
DOING BUSINESS ON THE 'NET: ELECTRONIC CONTRACTING

A. FROM CLICKWRAP TO ´BOTS: THE FORMATION OF ECONTRACTS
    1. The Evolutionary Law of Formation: Shrinkwraps and Beyond
    2. Building the Infrastructure: UCITA and UETA on Formation
    3. Repainting the Picture: Binding Commitment in eContract

B. CONTRACTURAL BOUNDARIES: THE LIMITATIONS OF ECONTRACT TERMS
    1. Public Policy Limitations on Contract Terms
    2. Federal Preemption Issues

C. MAKING A DIGITAL DEAL STICK: ISSUES OF ENFORCEMENT
    1. Authentication: the State of Digital Signature Legislation
    2. Choice of Law Problems in eContracts

IV
MINDING THE DIGITAL STORE: PROPERTY LAW FOR ECOMMERCE

A. TECHNOLOGY V. LAW, ACT I: COPYRIGHT IN CYBERSPACE
    1. Basics: A Primer on Copyright Law
    2. "Fair Use" in a Digital Networked World: Napster/MP3s, etc.
    3. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act
    4. The Challenge of The Future: Gnutella as a Case Study

B. THE "REAL ESTATE" OF THE 'NET: TRADEMARKS IN CYBERSPACE
    1. Basics: A Quick Look at Trademark Law
    2. The (Continuing) Saga of Domain Names -- First Wave: Trademark Analysis
    3. The (Continuing) Saga of Domain Names -- Second Wave: ICANN & Congress
    4. Metadata and Search Engines

C. OWNING THE IDEA: PATENTS AND ECOMMERCE

D. THE LAW OF LINKING [& FRAMING]
    1. The Genesis of Linking Disputes; Copyright Theories
    2. "Trespass to Web Sites"; the Nature of Linking

V
SPEEDBUMPS ON THE ROAD TO RICHES: CONSUMERS AND ECOMMERCE

A. COOKIES, FORMS, DATABASES, AND YOU: CONSUMER PRIVACY ISSUES
    1. DoubleClick: A Case Study
    2. Foundations of Privacy Regulations
    3. Response, Phase I: Self-Regulation
    4. Response, Phase II: Government Regulation
    5. Response, Phase III: Technological Regulation

B. ANTITRUST & ECOMMERCE: PROTECTING CONSUMERS ONLINE
    1. The Dark Side of Bargain Hunting: Why Unlimited Competition May Not be Good for Consumers
    2. Special eCommerce-Antitrust Problems: B2B Exchanges and Internet Standards

VI
WHAT IS THE "LAW OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE"?