Description
Digital transactions increasingly drive commerce in Canada and worldwide. The basic tenets of Contract Law have been molded by courts and legislatures to reflect the challenges of online transactions. Some of these compromises work well, whereas other novel technologies challenge established norms. For example, the nature and complexity of Blockchain contracts and digital currencies have stymied their regulation, resulting in investor loss (and sometimes significant gains that dispense with intermediaries, such as financial institutions).This course will be lecture and discussion-based, meeting twice per week for 1.5 hours per class, for one term (3 credits). Guest lecturers with computer science knowledge may participate in any lead-up to complex and novel transactional discussions. The course will be designed to examine the application of traditional legal principles to digital commerce, to identify unique issues and legal shortcomings, and to examine possible solutions, including new regulatory requirements.
Law and Technology Certificate: This is an option for a core course for the Law and Technology Certificate. If not counted as a core course it can be used as an elective. All electives offered as part of the Law and Technology Certificate build on the knowledge and skills acquired in either one of the two core courses: law and technology, and intellectual property law (LAWS 2019 and LAWS 2178 respectively). Students will be required to take at least one elective in each of the two baskets, i.e. Law and Technology, and Intellectual Property Law.
LAWS 2372: The Law of Digital Commerce is in Basket 1 - Law and Technology.