Legal Issues - Intellectual Property, Criminal Law, Jurisdiction And Sovereignty, Constitutional Issues: Privacy And Freedom Of Expression

The rise of the Internet has impacted virtually every branch of law and is expected to revolutionize the relationship between law, government, and technology. Central questions concerning Internet-related legal issues include: If cyberspace constitutes a separate legal domain, should there be a separate branch of "cyberlaw" to regulate it? Or should existing laws be reinterpreted to adapt to the special legal circumstances of the electronic world? Alternatively, should the Internet remain free of regulation altogether? How will the Internet affect fundamental principles of civil liberties, commercial relations, and international law?

The terrain of cyberspace creates unique legal dilemmas. The Internet transcends all geographic and political borders, potentially rendering obsolete one of the fundamental tenets of modern law: that laws are created and enforced within discrete, political territories. When users can access online services and information or communicate with individuals all over the world, which legal jurisdiction takes responsibility for disputes that may arise? To what extent should the laws of differing nations—which cover topics as varied as intellectual property and freedom of speech—be harmonized, especially to facilitate international e-commerce?

The branches of law most under discussion at the turn of the millennium included intellectual property, criminal law, conflict of jurisdiction, and the civil liberties issues of privacy and freedom of expression.