Directed Study and Independent Learning - Students will be required to carry out a substantial amount of independent reading and research. This will be guided by course materials and group discussions via the discussion board on Blackboard. Detailed reading lists are provided throughout the course materials provided.
Students will be expected to make regular use of, for example, Westlaw, LexisNexis and other electronic sources as an independent research tool. Those students who make regular and appropriate use of this research tool will develop their skills in IT and independent research. In addition such students should be able to make a more meaningful contribution to the discussion board, and assessment performance will benefit.
Students will also be encouraged to communicate with the tutor via email if they feel it is a matter unsuitable for the Discussion Boards.
Discussion Boards will be 'live' for limited periods only, to encourage students to participate regularly, rather than leave it all to the last-minute. At the end of the 'live' period, all discussions will be archived, and the archives will still be accessible to the students on a 'read-only' basis.

Information Technology law spans many areas of law for example, crime, contract, tort and intellectual property. Developments in information technology and the internet explosion have, at times, proven to be problematic to the courts and legal system. These issues will be developed throughout the module, and students are to be encouraged to consider these problems and draw their own conclusions as to the capability of the law to address problem issues that arise through IT.
In particular, we will concentrate on the following areas:
- computer crime - Computer Misuse Act 1990, obscene publications,
- tortious liability - defamation, negligence
- e-commerce

One 3000 word Assignment weighted at 100% to be submitted at the end of the course. This may take the form of either a problem or essay style question. It will, however, assess all learning outcomes, and will assess in particular, understanding and application of relevant laws to certain scenarios or situations, and to the extent to which the law has kept up to speed with the fast development and new challenges which may arise through information and communication technology.

Bainbridge, D (2008) Introduction to Information Technology Law, 6th Edition Pearson Longman.
Lloyd, I. (2008). Information Technology Law, 5th ed. Oxford.
Chris Reed (Ed) (2007) Computer Law, 6th ed. Oxford.

Appropriate texts, legislation and case law
Course material guide
Computing facilities to access resources available on the web and on-line databases