Copyright © 2008 – Jeffrey Pittman

 Which invention during the last 2,000 years has produced the most profound change on society?  With due respect to the many other choices, the printing press is considered by many as the most important invention Pittman - Cyberlaw & E-Commerce 2

 In that regard, the Internet and the WWW represent the greatest change in the flow of information since the printing press  Changes introduced by the Internet have highlighted and modified traditional areas of law and created new areas of law Pittman - Cyberlaw & E-Commerce 3

 The Internet initially was designed as a vehicle promoting the exchange of research/academic information  The Internet is largely self-regulated; Government regulation is minimal Pittman - Cyberlaw & E-Commerce 4

 As of August 21, 2007, the stock price for the Coca-Cola Company was $54.23 per share; at that price the market value is $125 billion  The physical (tangible) assets are valued at ?? (one estimate, $20 billion)  For Google, the current market capitalization is around $158 billion  Physical assets of ?? Pittman - Cyberlaw & E-Commerce 5

 The Internet has created novel legal issues and reenergized older legal topics in many areas, including the following:  Lawsuit jurisdiction  Use and protection of intellectual property, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets  Online contracting  Privacy & information security  Pornography (obscenity)  Defamation Pittman - Cyberlaw & E-Commerce 6