Columbus School of Law
The Catholic University of America
Spring Term 2000
CYBERLAW SYLLABUS: PART I (WEEKS ONE TO THREE)
Professor Susanna Fischer
Office Room 412
Office Telephone 202-319 5568
E-mail: fischer@law.edu
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WEEK ONE (January 10, 2000-January 14, 2000)
January 10: Introduction to Cyberlaw
Required Reading: Course Materials Packet (available in the Cyberlaw Snailmailbox on the Fourth Floor opposite the elevator) includes:
John Perry Barlow, "A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace";
Findings of Fact 1-20 in American Civil Liberties Union v. Reno, 31 F. Supp.2d 473, 481-84 (E.D.Pa. 1999).
The Course Outline will be distributed at the first class. This class will introduce the subject matter and structure of the course.
January 12: History and Background of the Internet
Required Reading:
Barry M. Leiner et al., A Brief History of the Internet http://www.isoc.org/internet-history/brief.html
Robert X. Cringeley, Nerds 2.01: A Brief History of the Internet http://www.pbs.org/opb/nerds2.01
DEADLINE: List/Statement of Class Maven Topic Preferences/Dates due in class
Recommended Reading:
Help with "cybervocabulary" is provided by Matisse Enzer, "Glossary of Internet Terms" at http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html
Various interesting articles on the history of the Internet by its developers, as well as some helpful timelines, are on the Internet Society (ISOC) site at: http://www.isoc.org/internet/history
General introductory information on the Internet, including information on netiquette and search engines, can be found on "Beginner's Guide to Life on the Internet" at: http://www.screen.com/start/guide/default.html
Information about the World Wide Web Consortium, an international industry consortium set up to develop common protocols for the World Wide Web, can be found at www.w3.org/Consortium
The first reference to cyberspace was by science fiction writer William Gibson in Neuromancer (1984). Gibson's book is not on the Web, although you can purchase it through one of the many online bookstores. Another book you may find interesting is Tim Berners-Lee's account of the development of the World Wide Web, Weaving the Web, (1999) - see http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/Weaving/Overview.html
There are a myriad of other interesting and helpful sites on the history and development of the Web which you can find yourself. Happy surfing!
January 14: Lessig: "Code is Law" I
Required Reading:
Lessig, Code, pp. 1-42
WEEK TWO (January 17, 2000-January 21, 2000)
January 17: NO CLASS - MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
January 19: Lessig "Code is Law" II
Required Reading:
Lessig, Code, pp. 43-84
January 21: The Libertarian Response to Lessig
Required Reading:
David Post, "What Larry Doesn't Get" (1/5/00)
Lessig, Code, pp. 85-110
WEEK THREE (Jan. 24, 2000 - Jan. 28, 2000)
January 24: Theories of Internet Governance I
Required Reading:
David R. Johnson & David Post, Law and Borders: The Rise of Law in Cyberspace [This groundbreaking article was published in 48 Stan. L. Rev. 1367 (1996)]
SKIM Lessig, Code, pp. 110-120
Recommended Reading:
Links to David G. Post's other writings: David G. Post: Research & Writings [& Some Miscellany]
January 26: NO CLASS: SNOW
DAY!
January 28: Theories of Internet Governance II
Required Reading:
Henry H. Perritt, Jr., "The Internet as a Threat to Sovereignty? Thoughts on the Internet's Role in Strengthening National and Global Governance", 5 Indiana J. of Global Studies 423 (1998)
Jack L. Goldsmith, "The Internet and the Abiding Significance of Territorial Sovereignty", 5 Indiana J. of Global Studies 475 (1998)
Recommended Reading:
Jack L. Goldsmith, Against Cyberanarchy, 65 U. Chi. L. Rev. [not available online, as far as I know]
Henry H. Perritt, Jr., "Jurisdiction and the Internet: Basic Anglo/American Perspectives"
Henry H. Perritt, Jr., Web Page Including Publications
Link to Next Installment of Syllabus