91424 - Information, Technology And Law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course unit, students: - know the fundamental principles governing information technology as well as how they can be applied in the legal field, and are capable to gain further knowledge in this sector even where technology and law evolve; - are aware of the ways information technologies are applied in the fields of economy, public administrations, companies and, in particular, legal activities, and are also capable to assess social and legal impact of these dynamics; - know the regulatory frameworks applicable to information technology and are capable to analyze technology and information systems against the background of the national and international legal evolutions in the field of law.

Course contents

For all students, both attending the course (frequentanti), and not attending the course (non frequentanti) the detailed course content corresponds to the list of readings and materials.

Erasmus students follow the same programme of regular students.

For students coming from other degree courses, that have already passed an exam of Legal Informatics, the course contents for possible integration shall be agreed with the professor.

The course is divided into two parts: Legal informatics and IT law.

Legal informatics:

• Law in the information society – introduction to legal informatics: basic concept, evolution of the discipline, achievements and perspectives;

• Computers and computer programs: hardware, computer networks, the digital age, algorithms and programming languages, from algorithms to software, software development, developments in programming;

• Data and document structuring and archiving: archives, databases and information retrieval, database management system and document management, markup languages (HTML, XML), big data and open data, electronic signature and blockchain;

• Internet and the law: computer networks, the Internet, the Web, Web 2.0, the Semantic Web; Internet governance, legal rules and Internet rules, legal documentation on the Internet;

• Artificial Intelligence and law: artificial intelligence, rule-based systems and legal reasoning, machine learning-based systems in law, generative AI models. 

IT law:

• Personal data protection: privacy and data protection rights; information and freedom; data security;

• electronic document and electronic signature: encryption, legal effectiveness;

• e-commerce: online contracts, online advertising, liability of service providers, consumer protection;

• Intellectual property: software, digital content, open source and creative commons, databases, domain names.

Readings/Bibliography

Handbook and readings:

• G. Contissa, Information Technology for the Law, Giappichelli 2017
• Materials and slides provided by lecturers during the course (on the virtuale.unibo.it platform).

 

Teaching methods

Lectures are held by Prof. Contissa and Prof. Lagioia with the support of collaborators.

We warmly invite the students to actively participate in the lectures and discuss with teachers and other students the news and events, related to the topics of the course

During the course the students will have a chance to attend different conferences held by professors and professional lawyers on the topics of this course.

Further information available at the following Internet address: https://dsg.unibo.it/en/teaching/projects-and-teaching-methodologies

The exam can only be taken after having passed the exams of Constitutional Law and Private Law.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written test and an oral test, both compulsory and to be held on the same day, with the following modalities:

1) Written test:

• The written test is in presence in the room indicated on the almaesami website for the relevant call.
• It is a written test of 20 multiple-choice questions on the entire programme. Each correct answer will be given a score of 1.6 up to a maximum of 30 points. Each incorrect answer or answer not given will be given a score of 0. The final grade will be the sum of the points rounded to the closest integer.
• The duration of the written test is 20 minutes.
• Only an ID badge and a pen are required in order to take the test.
• The result of the written test will be made available to students immediately after the correction by the Commission by posting the marks near the exam room. The students are required to remain close to the room where the exam takes place.

2) Oral test:

• The oral test is in presence on the same day as the written test in the same room, after the posting of the results of the written test.
• Students who have acquired a mark of 18/30 or higher in the written test of the same appeal are eligible to take the compulsory oral test.
• Students who have obtained an insufficient mark in the written test are not admitted to the oral test and will have to register for another appeal.
• It is only possible to take the oral test in the same appeal/day as the written test.
• It consists of 2 or 3 questions on the entire programme.
• The oral test starts from the mark obtained in the written test, to which a maximum of three points may be added or deducted. However, the examiners reserve the right to assess the entire examination as insufficient if the questions asked in the oral examination are not answered.

Teaching tools

Slides and supplementary teaching materials on the main topics.

Expert interventions, readings and materials for individual study.

Students who for reasons of disability or specific learning disorders (DSA) need compensatory tools will be able to communicate their needs to the teacher in order to agree on the most appropriate measures.

All information related to the course and supplementary teaching materials will be available on the course website on virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Contissa

See the website of Francesca Lagioia