Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

It is vital for any participant in the digital age to gain a thorough knowledge of how the information economy is regulated for the benefit of individuals, corporations and the State, nationally and internationally. In order to be able to participate as a lawyer or other professional in this new environment it is important to have an understanding of the laws relating to privacy, e-security, consumer regulation, electronic payment and taxation systems, electronic contracts, and Public Key Infrastructure.

Aims

The unit aims to overview the notion of electronic commerce and its technological context while engaging with specific issues in relation to privacy, e-security, consumer regulation, electronic transactions, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), electronic payments and taxation.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Discuss the contextual issues underlying electronic commerce law;
2. Critically analyse recent international law, domestic and comparative case law and statutory reform relating to electronic commerce law;
3. Critically analyse emerging electronic commerce issues and communicate strategies for dealing with these complex legal issues;
4. Synthesise and evaluate complex legal issues in the context of electronic commerce law; and
5. explore an aspect of electronic commerce law and communicate the outcome in the context of a research assignment.

Content

The topics that will be considered are as follows.
Introduction to Essential Concepts and Regulation

Privacy and E-Commerce

E-Security

Jurisdictional Issues

E-Contracts

Electronic Payments System and E-Cash

Authentication and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

Downstream Liability

Content Regulation

Website Contracts

E-Taxation

Contemporary Issues

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit will be taught in block format across four days, totalling 26 hours of classes. The classes will be taught in a lecture and discussion format encouraging class participation and the ventilation of ideas for the purposes of academic development. The lectures/seminars are intended to achieve two objectives: the dissemination of knowledge and the development of ideas in relation to electronic commerce. The acquisition of the relevant knowledge is primarily your responsibility prior to the attendance at the lectures/seminars. You will be expected to participate in seminar discussion and debate about issues raised.

This unit is supported by an on-line teaching site, which includes links to useful web sites and cases.

Assessment

Assessment in this unit is both formative and summative.Throughout the lectures/seminars referred to above, you will be given formative feedback through comments by the lecturer, on both your responses to individual questions and participation in group discussions.

You will be given feedback on the topic chosen for your research paper as part of the approval process by the lecturer referred to below.
You will also be given written feedback on your research assignment.

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: This is a measure of your contribution to the discussions of the group. It takes into account your ability to listen to others, your demonstrated level of preparation, the quality of your contribution and your demonstrated ability to answer questions. The timing of this assessment is over the period of the lectures/seminars.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: In Class

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: The research paper will require you to research and write a research paper on an aspect of the unit content. The topic for the paper should be selected in consultation with the unit coordinator within 2 weeks after the completion of the block classes.
You will be assessed on your demonstrated familiarity with relevant literature and its critical review together with synthesis of this material into a coherent argument/discussion and the level of critical ability revealed by the analysis.
Word limit: 6000-8000 words
Relates to objectives: 1-5
Weight: 80%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: 8 weeks after class

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed Text:

Fitzgerald, B and Fitzgerald, A, Clark, E, Yee Fen Lim, & Middleton, G, Internet and e-Commerce Law,
Business and Policy (2011) Lawbook Co Sydney

Recommended Reading:

B Fitzgerald and A Fitzgerald, Cyberlaw: Cases and Materials on the Internet, Digital Intellectual Property and E Commerce (2002) Lexis Nexis Butterworths Sydney
Australian eBusiness Guide 2nd ed, Sydney CCH Australia Limited, 2002
Hughes G and Sharpe A, Computer Contracts: Principles and Precedents, Sydney LBC Information Services, 2004 (loose-leaf)

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 23-Oct-2012