97205 - Sem. Private Law in the Digital Era

Academic Year 2025/2026

  • Docente: Annalisa Atti
  • Credits: 2
  • SSD: IUS/01
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Employment and Business Relations Consultant (cod. 9230)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the seminar every student will achieve elements of knowledge of the new digital world and its relationship with civil law; he will be able to deal with the basics of the relevant civil law issues, while being aware of their complexity and of the existing lack of an organic ruling.

Course contents

The advent of new technologies, the birth of new entrants and new goods, the rise of new opportunities and problems affects civil law (whose origins date back to roman law and to an “analog” world) with new issues and uncertainties, new needs for protection and ruling, in a growing digital and technological perspective.

Seminar programme:

- Technology, machines, robots and individual: from bioethics to the basic rules of robotics. AI regulation, European and national

- New technologies, individual and processing of personal data: new and old righs, new and old protections

- Dematerialisation and rights in rem: new goods and new riches, from belongingness to digital heritage

- AI and contractual activity: technology and consumer, e-commerce, smart contract, software agents

- AI and liability: from self-driving vehicles to algorithm liability

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material (papers, case law rulings, guidance material) shall be supplied via VirtualLearningEnvironment https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Teaching methods

The format of the seminar involves an introductory framing of every subject, in-depth discussion in the classroom through the examination of papers, case law rulings, guidance material, etc.

Classes are held in-person, according to University guidelines.

Class attendance is strongly recommended. Working students are invited to agree an alternative method of attendance with the teacher.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation will consist of a suitable/unsuitable judgement.

Students attending at least 80% of the lessons (attendance will be verified in class) will take a short informal interview to complete the attendance, while those who do not reach this threshold will be assigned a short essay on one of the topics covered in the meetings, to be written in class.

Teaching tools

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Article, teaching material and other utilities on VirtualLearningEnvironment VirtualLearningEnvironment https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Atti

SDGs

Quality education Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.