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Jump to first page Guide to Researching the Law In Cyberspace Jennifer L. Selby University of Michigan Law Library International Law Librarian September 20, 2006
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Jump to first page We will discuss: n The sources and methods for conducting legal and law-related research on your chosen topic relating to Cyberspace Law n We will rely primarily on free Internet resources, but also look at licensed online resources available to the UM community
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Jump to first page Evaluating web sites n Need to evaluate the information for quality: u Currency: Look for a date indicating the last time a web page was updated or a publication date on an individual document
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Jump to first page Evaluating web sites u Authority: Government, university, and other public bodies and organizations lend more authority to the information on their web sites. F Keep in mind however that an organization may have an agenda that shades the quality of their information. F Look to see if a web site attributes its information to other bodies and if the information is provided in a more static format, such as PDF.
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Jump to first page Evaluating web sites n Durability: Remember that the web site can be ephemeral with documents and web sites disappearing. It is important to make copies, especially for citation purposes. n The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, or, Why It’s a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources (http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html)http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html
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Jump to first page Searching the Internet n Pandia (http://www.pandia.com/): A guide to Internet searching and search engine optimizationhttp://www.pandia.com/ u Specific Tips for searching Internet: http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/recommendations. html ` http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/recommendations. html n Beyond Google and Yahoo: Advanced Search, Tom Mighell & Sabrina I. Pacifici (http://www.llrx.com/features/techshow06search.pdf)http://www.llrx.com/features/techshow06search.pdf n Gumshoe Librarian 2006, Barbara Fullerton & Sabrina I. Pacifici (http://www.llrx.com/features/gumshoe06.htm) List of recommended web sites to enhance your research on various subjects, including cyber securityhttp://www.llrx.com/features/gumshoe06.htm
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Jump to first page Searching the Internet n Bespacif (http://www.bespacific.com/) Blog by Sabrina Pacifici on law & technology, “providing top-quality information on professional concerns like privacy, freedom of information, e-government, copyright, and proposed technology legislation.”http://www.bespacific.com/
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research n Do not reinvent the wheel – use books, law reviews, etc. to learn from and cite to the legal experts n Good way to obtain citations to relevant case law, statutes, regulations, etc.
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research n Books in the Law Library – Always start with Lexcalibur: http://lexcalibur.lib.law.umich.edu/ http://lexcalibur.lib.law.umich.edu/ u Keywords/Table of Contents u Subject Headings F E.g., Internet law and legislation; Computer Networks law and legislation; Intellectual Property
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research n Books Lists in Law Library – Computers and the Internet u List of important works in Law Library, but not comprehensive – place to start u Under “Reference Resources,” “Books Lists,” “Secondary Sources,” (http://www.law.umich.edu/library/refres/b ibliographies/2dysrcs/secondarysourcesi ndex.htm#d-j)http://www.law.umich.edu/library/refres/b ibliographies/2dysrcs/secondarysourcesi ndex.htm#d-j
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research n Books in other libraries on campus, such as Graduate Library – Mirlyn covers all libraries except Law and Business: http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/ http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/ u Keyword u Covers legal aspects and non- legal aspects of relevant topics
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Jump to first page Google Book Project/Mbooks n UM Library collections currently being scanned in full (for materials out of copyright) and in limited view or snippets (for material still in copyright) - http://books.google.com/ & http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu http://books.google.com/ http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu u Produces searchable Index of books, allowing full-text searching of keywords u Researcher can then retrieve paper copy if material relevant & want to see more u Law Library collections not yet scanned
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research n Law Reviews/Journals: Note that there does not exist one single database that comprehensively covers all the law journals u Instead, you must use a combination of tools/databases
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research - Articles n Free online articles: u Law Reviews/Journals - http://www.jurist.law.pitt.edu/sg_cyb.htm# Reviews http://www.jurist.law.pitt.edu/sg_cyb.htm# Reviews F Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review F Berkeley Technology Law Journal u SSRN Cyberspace Law Abstracts F Choose “Legal Scholarship Network” from menu F Choose “Subject Matter” F Choose “Cyberspace Law”
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research - Articles n Law Library’s Electronic Resources List - http://www.law.umich.edu/library/eres/er eslist/ereslistindex.htm http://www.law.umich.edu/library/eres/er eslist/ereslistindex.htm u Licensed online resources; access limited to UM Community n Full- text: F Lexis/Westlaw F HeinOnline F JSTOR
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research - Indexes n Index to Legal Periodicals and Books n Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals n LegalTrac n Proquest
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Jump to first page Secondary Source Research – Research Guides n Jurist/Cyberspace Law (http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/sg_cyb.ht m): Links to news, books, articles, etc.http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/sg_cyb.ht m n LLRX.com u Search engines u State & Federal Law u International Law u Comparative & Foreign Law
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Jump to first page Primary Law Research n U.S. Federal & State n International Law n Foreign Law
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Federal u Legislation/Regulations/Case Law F GPO Access (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.h tml)http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.h tml Provides links to other offiicial web sites, such as US Supreme Court (http://www.supremecourtus.gov/)http://www.supremecourtus.gov/ F Cornell LII (http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/fed eral/)http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/fed eral/
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law F Findlaw for Legal Professionals (http://lp.findlaw.com/)http://lp.findlaw.com/ F Lexisone (http://www.lexisone.com/) Free web resources that include federal case lawhttp://www.lexisone.com/ F LexisNexis Academic/Legal Research (Access limited to UM community)(http://web.lexis- nexis.com/universe)http://web.lexis- nexis.com/universe
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Federal: Legislative History (Bills, Reports, Hearings, etc.) and Bill tracking u Library of Congress/Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov/)http://thomas.loc.gov/ u LexisNexis Congressional/Legislative Histories, Bills & Laws (Access limited to UM community)(http://web.lexis- nexis.com/congcomp/)http://web.lexis- nexis.com/congcomp/
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n State u Legislation/Regulations/Case Law F Cornell LII (http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/states/ind ex.html)http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/states/ind ex.html F Findlaw for Legal Professionals (http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/)http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/ F Lexisone (http://www.lexisone.com/) Free web resources that include statel case lawhttp://www.lexisone.com/ F LexisNexis Academic/Legal Research (Access limited to UM community)(http://web.lexis- nexis.com/universe)http://web.lexis- nexis.com/universe
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Gateway/Database sties u Firstgov (http://www.firstgov.gov)http://www.firstgov.gov F Allows searcing of” millions of web pages from federal and state governments, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.” u Findlaw (http://www.findlaw.com) Law portal with own search enginehttp://www.findlaw.com u Catalaw (http://www.catalaw.com) “Catalog of catalogs of worldwide law on the Internet.”http://www.catalaw.com u Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov)http://www.regulations.gov F Locate and comment on U.S. Federal agency regulations u USPTO (http://www.uspto.gov)http://www.uspto.gov F Patent & Trademark searches
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Specialized Resources (Licensed and available to UM community) u Electronic versions of looseleaf services, covering specialized areas of law (http://www.law.umich.edu/library/eres/er eslist/bycategory/ebooks.htmhttp://www.law.umich.edu/library/eres/er eslist/bycategory/ebooks.htm F CCH OmniTax Online Library F CCH Business & Finance F CCH Internet Health & Human Resources
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Records & Briefs u Federal Courts – US Supreme Court F U.S. SCt.Records & Briefs, 1832-1978: PDF documents, access restricted to UM community (http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/umich _law?db=SCRB)http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/umich _law?db=SCRB F Lexis (Gendfed; Briefs) 1979 F Westlaw (SCT_Breifs) 1990/91- F Microfiche in Law Library, 1832-present (Call No. Micro-10 S1) See Reference Desk for help
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law u Federal Courts – Others F Law Library does not have access to Court of Appeals or District Court documents u State Courts – Michigan Supreme Court F Online, 2001/2002 – (http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/ Clerk/msc_orals.htm)http://courts.michigan.gov/supremecourt/ Clerk/msc_orals.htm F Paper in Law Library, 1854-present (Call No. Records & Briefs) See Reference Desk for help u State Courts – Others F Law Library does not carry
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Call individual federal or state courts and for a fee obtain copies of documents n Pacer (http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov)http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov u For-fee database of online full-text records, briefs, etc. for all US Federal courts u Law Library does not have access u Can sign up individually and use personal credit card – fees are minimal u Not all Federal Courts participate
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Jump to first page U.S. Federal and State Law n Focused Google search u Search case name in quotations F Case may be posted by a blogger or a party involved n If all else fails: Check to see if specialized case reporter is in paper in Law Library u E.g., BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal (PTCJ) is available in paper, 1973 - [Eng Per B_N_A's]
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Jump to first page International Law/Treaties n Key questions to locating a treaty: u Is it bilateral or multilateral? u Is the U.S. a party? u What is the date? n See: Accidental Tourist table, Ch. 6; pgs. 133-134. [Online in Lexcalibur and paper in Ref Coll Bibliog Accident]
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Jump to first page Treaties n US a party? u Start with US Treaties in Force http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/treati es/ http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/treati es/ F UST F TIAS F UNTS (multilateral/bilateral) F KAV F International Legal Materials (ILM)
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Jump to first page Treaties n United States Treaties (UST) u Paper: 1950 – [JX8 9 U58.3 A] F 10+ time lag in publication u Online: Treaties and Agreements Library/HeinOnline, 1950-1984, PDF documents http://www.heinonline.org/HOL/Ind ex?collection=ustreaties http://www.heinonline.org/HOL/Ind ex?collection=ustreaties
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Jump to first page Treaties n TIAS – Like a slip opinion u Paper through 1996 (10 yr time lag) u Online/PDF 1996- : http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/tias/ http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/tias/
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Jump to first page Treaties n Kavass (KAV): United States Treaty Index & Hein Microfiche Series u Master Guide & various indexes u Online: Treaties and Agreements Library/HeinOnline, PDF documents http://www.heinonline.org/HOL/Ind ex?collection=ustreaties http://www.heinonline.org/HOL/Ind ex?collection=ustreaties F KAV 0001-7503 (1987-2006)
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Jump to first page Treaties n UN Treaties – UNTS u Multilateral and bilaterial, to which US may or may not be a party u Paper: United Nations Treaty Series (UNTS), 1946- [JX9 UN.8 V.1] F League of Nations Treaty Series (LNTS), 1929-1946 [Micro-10 LLMC 79-454]
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Jump to first page Treaties u UN Treaty Collection - Electronic Resource List (Mostly PDF documents) (http://www.law.umich.edu/library/eres /ereslist/intl/un.htm) : International Law/Treatieshttp://www.law.umich.edu/library/eres /ereslist/intl/un.htm F Mulitlaterial Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General (paper (Ref CollIndexes Multilat) or online). F UNTS 1946- [JX9 UN.8 V.1] & Online
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Jump to first page Government Documents n E.g., United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), European Union (EU), etc. n Typically the best place to start is the organization’s website u See Law Library’s Electronic Resources List: http://www.law.umich.edu/library/er es/ereslist/ereslistindex.htm http://www.law.umich.edu/library/er es/ereslist/ereslistindex.htm
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Jump to first page Government Documents n UM Library Documents Center - http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/ http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/ u Inter-govenrmental Organizations (IGOs) (http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/intl.html# IGOs)http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/intl.html# IGOs F EU – Europa (portal server) Eur-lex (Legislation, Case Law, Treaties, etc) F UN – Official Document System (ODS) u Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) (http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/intl.html#li stsNGOs)http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/intl.html#li stsNGOs u Statistics (http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html)http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html
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Jump to first page Foreign Law n Law of jurisdictions outside of the U.S. u 200+ non-US jurisdictions n General sources: u Reynolds & Flores F Best starting place for foreign law F Multi-volume set; also online at Electronic Resources List u Introduction to Foreign Legal Research F UM Law Library Research Guide: http://www.law.umich.edu/library/refres/re sguides/pdfs/foreign.pdf http://www.law.umich.edu/library/refres/re sguides/pdfs/foreign.pdf
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Jump to first page Foreign Law n Foreign legal citations can look weird u 1995 (1) SACR 45 (CC) F South African Criminal Reports, Constitutional Court u §191 Nr. 5 ZPO F Zivilprozeßordnung (civil procedure code of Germany) u Clunet 122 no. 3:585-597 ’95 F Journal du Droit International (France) u 13 Gr.B. 408 (1901) F The Green Bag
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Jump to first page Foreign Law n Sources to help you identify weird cites u World Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations u Noble’s International Guide to the Law Reports u Bieber’s u Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (Online at Electronic Resources List) u BlueBook
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Jump to first page Foreign Law n Locating sources of foreign primary law: u Reynolds & Flores F Paper [Ref Coll Bibliog Reynolds] F Online – Electronic Resources List u Lexcalibur u Online sources F Compiled Foreign Law links – Electronic Resources List/Foreign & Comparative Law: http://www.law.umich.edu/library/er es/ereslist/ereslistindex.htm http://www.law.umich.edu/library/er es/ereslist/ereslistindex.htm
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Jump to first page Foreign Law F Foreign Primary Law on the Web (U. of Houston) http://www.law.uh.edu/libraries/fi/fo reignlaw.html http://www.law.uh.edu/libraries/fi/fo reignlaw.html F Compilation of Foreign Laws by Country (Harvard) http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/ services/research/guides/internatio nal/web_resources/foreignA.php http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/ services/research/guides/internatio nal/web_resources/foreignA.php
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Jump to first page Foreign Law n Locating foreign periodical sources u Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals u LegalTrac u Index to Legal Periodicals and Books n Don’t look for periodical articles on Lexcalibur!
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Jump to first page Law Firms n Hieros Gamos (http://www.hg.org) Collection of law firm links and legal information based on practice area (such as Computer Law; Technology & Cyberspace Law)http://www.hg.org
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Jump to first page Background Materials n UM Law Library’s Internet Legal Research Guide (http://www.law.umich.edu/library/r efres/resguides/pdfs/internet.pdf)http://www.law.umich.edu/library/r efres/resguides/pdfs/internet.pdf
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Jump to first page Finals Tips n Keep a research log! n Be sure to properly cite your sources – do not plagiarize! n Stop by the Reference Desk for further help: u Staffed 9am-midnight, 7 days/week u Librarians available Mon-Wed, 10- 6pm; Thur-Fri, 10-5pm, and Sunday, 2-6pm
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