The course looks at the intersection of Information Technology with law. Five broad subject areas have been identified within which this intersection is explored: from the impact of digital content, through the challenges and opportunities of a vastly more interconnected, perhaps "borderless" society. Anyone who was intrigued by the movie "The Social Network" will be interested in this course.

The 5 areas of study are:

   information technology and intellectual property;

   censorship;

   privacy;

   computer crime and evidence; and

   e-commerce and IT contracts.

An important component of the course is the cultivation of an understanding of the technology underlying information technology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Research, evaluate and apply the fundamental legal principles of information technology law covered in the course
2. Evaluate case law, legislation and scholarly writing in the area of Information technology law and communicate solutions to legal problems using both written and oral communication
3. Evaluate social implications of Information technology law when analysing domestic primary and secondary sources to produce solutions to legal problems
4. Undertake research in the area of Information Technology law and present findings using a variety of materials to a range of audiences

Research-Led Teaching

This is a relatively new area of the law, with new technologies and companies emerging all of the time. You will be expected to research new areas, and are welcome to suggest additional areas of interest in the new digital world. I have been working in this space as a founder of a successful startup and in Silicon Valley for over 25 years, and the course draws on this experience.

Required Resources

The prescribed text for the unit is Diane Rowland, Uta Kohl and Andrew Charlesworth Information Technology Law, (5^th Ed, Routledge). The easiest way to get this is from Amazon, it is available electronically for the Kindle/Tablet. The text will be supplemented by Australian-focused material supplied in class and on Wattle.

Preliminary Reading / Reading Guide

Please read Chapters 1 and 2 of the Course Text (Information Technology Law).

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Extensions and Late penalties - https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_004604

Deferred examination: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/deferred-examinations

Special consideration: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/special-assessment-consideration

Penalties for excess word length: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures

Further Information about the Course: is available from the course WATTLE page. Students are required to access the WATTLE site regularly throughout the course for details on weekly classes and any announcements relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to Information Technology
2	Introduction to Information Technology
3	Censorship
4	Censorship
5	Privacy
6	Privacy
7	IT Contracts & E-Commerce
8	IT Contracts & E-Commerce
9	Computer Crime and Evidence
10	Computer Crime and Evidence
11	Intellectual Property and IT
12	Intellectual Property and IT

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Research Essay	50 %	18/04/2019	31/05/2019	1,2,3,4
Formal Examination (Take Home)	40 %	06/06/2019	04/07/2019	1,2,3
Participation	10 %	06/06/2019	04/07/2019	2

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Research Essay

Details of task: You will write an essay on a topic in one of the areas Privacy, Censorship, or IT Contracts & E-Commerce. This task addresses all 4 of the Intended Learning Outcomes:

1. Applying the legal principles of information technology law covered in the course;
2. Applying the critical thinking required to bring about solutions to complex legal problems in the area of information technology law;
3. Applying a range of domestic primary and secondary legal resources; and
4. Undertaking a research project with intellectual independence

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to submit this task will result in a 0 for this assessment task.

Weighting: 50% of Final Mark

Release Date: Topics will be released on Wattle by the end of Week 2.

Due Date: One Page Outline 30 March 2019. Final essay 5pm on 18th April 2019. Submission for both must be via Turnitin.

Word limit: 3000

Referencing Requirements: As per the current edition of the AGLC

Other requirements: In line with the new policy to provide student feedback by the midpoint of the Semester, a one page outline describing the focus of the essay will be due at the end of Week 6, with feedback returned within a week.

Estimated return date: Results will be made available by Week 12

Assessment criteria:

• Understanding and discussion of relevant law
• Critical evaluation of doctrine.
• Critical evaluation of material
• Creative and originality of approach
• Structure including logical development of content/material.
• Research of primary legal (case law and legislation) and scholarly secondary sources.

Assessment Rubrics:

?A research essay rubric is available on the course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 2

Formal Examination (Take Home)

Details of Task: You will be given 2 questions: one in the topic area IT & Intellectual Property, the other Computer Crime & Evidence.

• The IT & Intellectual Property question will be a choice of an essay question and a problem-style question.
• The Computer Crime & Evidence question will be a choice of an essay question and a problem-style question.

You must answer both questions: IT & Intellectual Property and Computer Crime & Evidence.

This task addresses the following intended learning outcomes:

1. Explain, distinguish and apply the fundamental legal principles of information technology law covered in the course;
2. Apply the critical thinking required to bring about solutions to complex legal problems in the area of information technology law;

Access, use, interpret and apply a range of domestic primary and secondary legal resources to solve complex problems.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to attend the exam will result in a 0 for this assessment task. 

Weighting: 40%

Word limit: 2000

Duration: Over two days

Timing: During the final exam period. Please note, that the dates used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams indicate approximate timeframes ONLY.

Estimated return date: After final results are released (for final exams)

Assessment Criteria:

• Selects relevant issues
• Understanding and discussion of relevant law
• Analysis of relevant facts
• Persuasiveness of arguments
• Formulation of strong and clear conclusion(s) and advice about outcomes.

An exam rubric is available on the course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 3

Participation

Details of task: You will be measured on your levels of participation in class and the online Class Facebook page found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/itllm2019/. Details are in the Rubric, for those who are conscientious objectors to using social media see the Convenor for an alternative form of assessment which will normally take the form of a 800 word essay.

 

This task addresses intended learning outcome of selecting and applying a range of approaches to written and oral communication in this space (Learning outcome 2)

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to participate will result in a 0 for this task. 

Value or weighting: 10%

Release Date: N/A

Due Date: N/A

Assessment criteria:

• Demonstration of preparation for class
• Understanding and application of relevant law and concepts.
• Amount and value of participation in class and online.
• Effectiveness of communication and delivery in class and online.
• Questioning and critical approach to class content/material in particular online.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

OR

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students